Saudi Arabia will host the second Space Debris Conference in Riyadh on 26 January, positioning the Kingdom as a convening power in one of the fastest-emerging governance challenges beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Organised by the Saudi Space Agency, the two-day meeting is expected to draw policymakers, engineers, defence officials and commercial operators from 75 countries, reflecting the urgency of tackling the accumulation of defunct satellites, fragments from collisions and spent rocket stages in Earth orbit.The gathering comes as satellite launches continue at an unprecedented pace, driven by communications constellations, Earth-observation systems and national security programmes. According to industry estimates, tens of thousands of trackable objects now circle the planet, while millions of smaller fragments remain untracked yet capable of damaging active spacecraft. The Riyadh conference aims to align technical standards, legal frameworks and operational practices to reduce collision risks and preserve orbital environments that are increasingly congested.
Saudi officials say the event will focus on practical coordination rather than abstract debate. Sessions are expected to address debris mitigation during satellite design, responsible end-of-life disposal, active debris removal technologies and data-sharing mechanisms between civil and defence tracking networks. The agency has framed the conference as a platform to bridge gaps between advanced spacefaring nations and newer entrants whose satellites are adding to orbital traffic but whose regulatory systems are still evolving.
In public remarks ahead of the meeting, SSA leaders have stressed that orbital debris is a collective problem that transcends national borders and commercial rivalries. The Kingdom’s emphasis on multilateralism reflects its broader push to play a larger role in global space governance, aligning with domestic investments in satellite manufacturing, launch services partnerships and downstream applications linked to Vision 2030.
International participation is expected to be broad, spanning established agencies, private launch providers, insurers and academic researchers. Several space agencies have signalled interest in discussing harmonised guidelines that go beyond voluntary best practices, particularly for low Earth orbit where mega-constellations operate. Insurers and satellite financiers are also likely to press for clearer norms, arguing that collision risks translate directly into higher premiums and capital costs.
Technology demonstrations and case studies will feature prominently. Active debris removal, once considered speculative, has advanced through robotic capture tests, drag-enhancing devices and controlled re-entry techniques. Conference organisers have indicated that panels will examine how such technologies could be scaled responsibly, including questions around liability, ownership of debris and the dual-use nature of rendezvous capabilities that could be misinterpreted in a security context.
Legal and policy discussions are expected to revisit existing international instruments, including the Outer Space Treaty and liability conventions, which predate today’s commercialised orbital economy. Experts argue that while these frameworks establish foundational principles, they leave significant gaps on enforcement and accountability for debris-creating events. Riyadh’s conference is positioned as a venue to explore incremental updates without reopening treaties wholesale, a process many governments view as politically fraught.
The choice of Riyadh underscores Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a hub for space diplomacy alongside its growing technical capabilities. The SSA has expanded partnerships with international agencies and private firms, while domestic universities and research centres have increased focus on space sciences. Hosting a second edition of the conference signals continuity and an intent to institutionalise dialogue rather than stage a one-off event.
Commercial operators, particularly those deploying large satellite fleets, are likely to face pointed questions about self-regulation and transparency. Tracking data accuracy, manoeuvre coordination and timely de-orbiting of failed satellites remain contentious issues. Industry representatives have argued that innovation should not be stifled by rigid rules, while regulators counter that unmanaged growth could trigger cascading collisions that render key orbits unusable.
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