Space is the foundational infrastructure of the 21st-century global economy. From navigation and finance to climate monitoring, daily life on Earth depends on satellites. Yet this critical orbital infrastructure is under threat. Congestion from space debris is rising, creating a strategic vulnerability for the entire planet.
This inaugural report, a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and the Centre for Space Futures, provides the first data-driven forecast of the economic impact of inaction. Using a novel orbital population model, it projects that space debris could impose a direct cost of up to $42.3 billion over the next decade, a “hidden tax” on the space economy.
This figure is a conservative baseline, however. A single major collision could drive costs far higher. By shifting from a reactive posture to a proactive strategy that combines preventative measures, economic incentives and international collaboration, global space actors can ensure that humanity continues to benefit from space infrastructure for generations to come.