Changes to the atmosphere caused by carbon dioxide emissions could increase the amount of debris that stays in orbit. ... If left unchecked, space junk could pose significant problems for future generations — rendering access to space increasingly difficult, or at worst, impossible. The most effective shortterm means of reducing the space debris growth rate is through the prevention of inorbit ex... View more

Changes to the atmosphere caused by carbon dioxide emissions could increase the amount of debris that stays in orbit. ... If left unchecked, space junk could pose significant problems for future generations — rendering access to space increasingly difficult, or at worst, impossible. The most effective shortterm means of reducing the space debris growth rate is through the prevention of inorbit explosions (via passivation of space objects at the end of their operational life) or collisions (via collision avoidance manoeuvres while the objects are still active). View less