Space is filling up with junk — ESA’s new AI could stop catastrophic satellite crashes

The area around Earth is becoming increasingly crowded, and over 1.2 million debris and counting are floating in space.

If this is not attended to, it could cause serious damage to satellites and spacecraft.

This is why the European Space Agency (ESA) has created CREAM, a system that will help mitigate the chances of collisions.

CREAM stands for Collision Risk Estimation and Automated Mitigation, a project designed to spot possible collisions in space and quickly create safe ways to avoid them.

The program began in 2020 and is still in the testing stage, but it already shows promise in making space operations safer and less stressful for satellite operators.

Avoiding space debris is a complex and exhaustive job.

Operators have to constantly and manually check for threats, figure out the best action to take, contact other operators, and work out agreements on who should make the first move.

These processes are detailed and can lead to serious damage if not handled properly.

The goal of CREAM is to take over much of this work by automatically checking for collision risks and suggesting suitable ways to prevent them.

It will also help connect all the people and organisations involved, so decisions can be made faster and with less confusion.

If two active satellites are on a collision course, CREAM can even assist in negotiations and, if needed, bring in mediation to settle disputes.

The fact that CREAM is based on Earth doesn’t restrict its operations.

Currently, the project can warn operators of possible collisions, suggest solutions, and coordinate responses between different parties

The next stage for CREAM is a pilot phase, where the system will be fully tested with all its key technologies working together on the ground.

After that, ESA plans to run the system aboard other satellites as a “piggyback” payload. This will allow it to operate directly in space.

Finally, a dedicated in-orbit mission will test the system’s full abilities in real conditions.

If project CREAM is successful, it will go a long way in protecting satellites, preventing collisions, and above all, keeping space safe and preserving it for missions to come.