Space debris threatens satellites, but two Italian innovations aim to boost orbit safety with AI, automation and CubeSat protection
More than 40,000 objects are currently tracked in Earth’s orbit, and even debris just a few millimeters wide can pose serious threats. Collisions risk damaging satellites and disrupting entire space missions.
Just like on Earth, space has a waste problem. It’s a distinctly human pattern, polluting first, then scrambling to fix it. According to ESA data, around 40,000 objects are now tracked in orbit, up from 34,000 in 2020. That’s an 18% increase in just five years, and only 11,000 of them are still active satellites. The number of space missions continues to grow yearly, driven by both scientific goals and commercial projects, especially the global push for satellite internet connectivity.
The buildup of space debris
Low Earth orbit is now filled with untraceable or hard-to-track debris, ranging from 1 mm to 1 cm. There are an estimated 130 million of these micro-fragments in orbit, plus over 1.2 million larger than 1 cm. These objects travel in the same region where most satellites operate, and even the tiniest collision can damage instruments, disable satellites, or ruin critical missions.
What is space situational awareness?
One potential answer to space debris is Space Situational Awareness (SSA): real-time monitoring of orbital environments using ground- and space-based sensor networks. These systems help predict collisions and support the maneuvers needed to protect infrastructure.
By integrating SSA with onboard artificial intelligence, we move closer to satellites that can autonomously avoid debris, reducing the need for constant human intervention. That’s critical because latency or operational limits often make it impossible to respond quickly enough from Earth.
Italy’s growing role in orbital safety
Italy, and especially the cities of Turin and Rome, plays a key role in space innovation. Both are home to major aerospace firms and an ecosystem of agile startups. Among them is AIKO, a scaleup developing advanced software for space applications, powered by automation and artificial intelligence. AIKO collaborates with ESA, universities and global industry players.
One of its projects supports ESA’s “Zero Debris Approach,” which aims to dramatically reduce orbital waste by 2030. The team is building a platform to plan and execute collision-avoidance maneuvers directly onboard CubeSats, minimizing risks without waiting for ground control. The initiative, developed with several industrial partners, focuses on making orbital safety more autonomous and efficient.
What are CubeSats?
CubeSats are small, cube-shaped modular satellites that are affordable, lightweight, and easy to launch. This project aims to create a fully autonomous system to prevent space collisions. It combines a liquid-ion thruster, ground-based monitoring, and AI-powered onboard software developed by AIKO.
This technology allows CubeSats to assess collision risk in real time and, if needed, execute automatic evasive maneuvers.
Shielding satellites from space debris
A second Italian solution is called SHIELD. This system supports smart satellite platforms that can prevent failures, autonomously avoid hazards, and ensure safe reentry at the end of their mission.
The project integrates an intelligent operating system that combines onboard decision-making with ground-based support. AIKO is building onboard software capable of continuously assessing satellite health, detecting issues, and taking autonomous action.
On Earth, operators analyze satellite component status to optimize performance. A new CubeSat camera developed by the University of Turin adds in-orbit debris detection capabilities.
“Satellites of the future won’t just be passive tools. They’ll be autonomous agents that adapt to an evolving space environment,” said Lorenzo Feruglio, CEO and co-founder of AIKO. “Our goal is to build a safer, more sustainable, and smarter orbital ecosystem, where every satellite plays an active role in protecting space.”
