Changing orbital landscape – 2026 Space environment report

Satellites are not necessarily staying in the same orbital bands anymore, leading to a changing orbital landscape. As large constellations expand and more spacecraft are deployed, active payloads are spreading across a wider range of altitudes.  

The GIF shows the different kinds of payloads (active manoeuvrable, active non-manoeuvrable and inactive ones) and other objects, which includes space debris, across altitudes from 2023-2026.

Below 600 km in altitude, space is becoming increasingly busy but remains dominated by manoeuvrable satellites that can coordinate and avoid one another. Between 600 and 1,100 km, operators face a far more challenging environment as it is inhabited by large amounts of legacy debris accumulated over decades. Above 1,100 km, where natural orbital decay can take centuries, the growing number of payloads, particularly around 1,200 km, is a notable trend. 

This shift underscores the importance of effective space traffic coordination and responsible end-of-life disposal. Data sharing on planned constellation deployments coupled with effective space traffic management can prevent challenges to mission planning. 

Discover the 2026 ESA Space Environment Report.