Thank you, Chair. The United States has highlighted the importance of reducing orbital debris to ensure the safety of both current and future space missions. In 2024, human space activities reached a new peak with 257 launches worldwide, leading to the deployment of nearly 2,500 satellites. With the expansion of space exploration, it is crucial for the global community, including space-faring nations, new space nations, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations, to adhere to the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines by the UNCOPUOS and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). These practices help minimize new orbital debris and preserve the near-Earth space environment.
The United States, through the Department of Defense, provides a space catalog with active satellites and trackable debris, along with collision warnings, available to all space users free of charge for over a decade. The Department of Commerce looks to improve the United States' cataloging and data sharing efforts as it prepares to take over civil space traffic coordination from the Department of Defense. These efforts demonstrate the U.S. commitment to helping mission operators avoid collisions and prevent debris.
NASA has been leading initiatives on measuring, modeling, protecting, and mitigating orbital debris for over 40 years. Continued monitoring efforts aim to track the changing orbital debris environment and improve conjunction assessment capabilities. The data collected supports mission risk assessments and protection against orbital debris for operators, government bodies, industry, academia, and research institutions worldwide.
Orbital debris plays a significant role in sustainability, which is a priority for NASA. Last year, NASA issued its first space sustainability strategy targeting the near-Earth space environment. The strategy outlines NASA's plan for addressing challenges related to orbital debris and space sustainability.
These efforts reflect the strength of the United States’ contributions to understanding and managing risks associated with orbital debris. The United States is committed to maintaining its leadership by working with the international community to address these concerns for the sustainability of space, from near-Earth to Cislunar space. Thank you, Chair.