**US Approves Space Debris Mitigation Measures, More Still Needed**
**Introduction**
Space debris poses a significant threat to satellites and other space assets. The United States has recently approved several measures to mitigate this threat, but experts believe more needs to be done.
**New Mitigation Measures**
The new measures approved by the US government include:
* **Requiring satellites to be equipped with collision avoidance systems.** This will help satellites avoid colliding with each other and creating more debris.
* **Setting limits on the size and number of satellites that can be launched.** This will help to reduce the amount of debris in orbit.
* **Providing incentives for companies to remove debris from orbit.** This will help to clean up the existing debris field and reduce the risk of collisions.
**Remaining Challenges**
While these new measures are a step in the right direction, experts believe that more needs to be done to address the threat of space debris. Some of the remaining challenges include:
* **Lack of international cooperation.** Space debris is a global problem, but there is no international agreement on how to mitigate it. This makes it difficult to coordinate efforts and ensure that all countries are doing their part.
* **Cost of debris removal.** Removing debris from orbit is a complex and expensive process. This makes it difficult for companies to justify the cost of doing so.
* **Technological limitations.** There are still some technological limitations to debris removal. For example, it is difficult to remove debris that is very small or that is located in high orbits.
**Conclusion**
Space debris is a serious threat to satellites and other space assets. The United States has recently approved several measures to mitigate this threat, but more still needs to be done. International cooperation, reduced costs, and improved technology are all needed to address this challenge and ensure the safety of space operations.
**Additional Information**
* [NASA’s Orbital Debris Program](https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/)
* [The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee](https://www.iadc-online.org/)
* [The European Space Agency’s Clean Space initiative](https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Clean_Space).
