As the global space economy accelerates toward a projected $1.8 trillion valuation, its long-term sustainability is increasingly under threat from a growing and complex challenge: space debris.

At Novaspace, we were proud to contribute to the economic modelling and valuation framework behind the World Economic Forum’s Clear Orbit, Secure Future report. Our analysis translates physical collision risks into tangible financial impacts, revealing that orbital debris could generate $25.8 billion to $42.3 billion in cumulative losses between 2025 and 2035 under a business-as-usual scenario.

These costs—driven primarily by service disruptions, asset degradation and collision-avoidance operations—represent more than isolated operational challenges. They constitute a systemic “hidden tax” on the space economy, affecting not only satellite operators but also the broader industries that rely on space-based services.

This report marks a critical step in reframing space debris as both an economic and strategic imperative, calling for coordinated action across technology, policy, finance and international collaboration to secure the future of orbital operations.