Three, Two, One, Zero.
Let's begin with the simplest of space math.
From 1960 to 2020, the number of satellites in orbit increased at a slow and steady pace.
We went from zero satellites to about 2,500 satellites, zipping by over our heads.
By the end of 2021, however, that number had doubled to 5,000.
And this is not an anomaly.
5,000 will soon turn to 10,000 and then, deep breaths, 100,000 satellites.
If companies like SpaceX, Amazon, and many others get their way, most of these satellites will settle in low earth orbit, which is right here.
It might seem like a roomy enough place, but it's already filled with those existing satellites, leftover rocket bodies and debris from collisions 1:01 in some countries - Russia, we're looking at you - have only made matters worse by firing missiles into space and blowing things up.
What we have here is a real problem, the kind of problem that could ruin space now and for many years into the future.
