The crisis in space

Man-made "megaconstellations" could end space travel. Space actives are growing rapidly, but what is often left unmentioned is the rapid growth of ‘space junk’ around the Earth’s orbit. W. Robert Pearson — a fellow in the Rethinking Diplomacy Program at Duke University — and astrophysicist Benjamin L. Schmitt explore the developing concerns, arguing that it is crucial to update the international Outer Space Treaty with rules that can create a positive environment for exploration.