United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

Ever since humans started space exploration, space junk has become an increasingly concerning problem to experts in the field, not only because it is polluting our planet’s orbit, but because it could limit future space exploration as well. The topic has become more urgent in recent years, and many seem puzzled about how we can solve this problem without aggravating it even further. Typically, about 30-60% of a spaceship’s structure–– ranging from detachable pieces to entire devices to prototypes–– becomes space junk, as they have reached the end of their functional life. For space exploration to continue existing and expanding, a sustainable way of travelling to and from space, a way to reduce the trash produced per launch, and a way to clean up and declutter Earth’s orbit needs to be developed. To safeguard the future of space exploration and keep expanding our knowledge, delegates are urged to dive into this complex topic that has been neglected for far too long.