August brought a reduced risk to UK interests, with fewer uncontrolled re-entries, collision alerts and fragmentation events, alongside lower space-weather activity than in July.
All National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) warning and protective services remained fully operational throughout the period.
Re-entry analysis
NSpOC monitored a 13% decrease in objects re-entering Earth’s atmosphere in August compared with July.
Of the 54 objects that re-entered, 47 were satellites, six were rocket bodies and one was likely debris.
September: 39, October: 54, November: 43, December: 52, January: 50, February: 66, March: 72, April: 68, May: 48, June: 53, July: 62, August: 54
Collision avoidance analysis
Collision risks to UK-licensed satellites fell by 25% in August compared with July and remained well below the 12-month rolling average.
September: 1,537, October: 2,402, November: 2,472, December: 2,643, January: 2,608, February: 2,117, March: 1,847, April: 1,194, May: 1,285, June: 1,436, July: 1,209, August: 901
Registered Space Objects (RSOs) analysis
The in-orbit population increased during August, adding a net 248 objects to the US Satellite Catalogue.
September, 31,677, October: 31,968, November: 32,351, December: 32,739, January: 32,965, February: 33,205, March: 33,593, April: 33,873, May: 34,138, June: 34,429, July: 34,751, August: 35,017
Counts of Resident Space Objects (RSOs) may be adjusted slightly as tracking methods improve. This report uses the most recent available data and may therefore differ marginally from figures published in previous months.
Fragmentation analysis
One fragmentation incident occurred in August, involving a satellite in Low Earth Orbit. NSpOC is assessing the amount of debris released into orbit.
Space weather analysis
Space-weather activity declined in August compared with July, although solar flares and geomagnetic storms were still recorded.
The National Space Operations Centre integrates and coordinates UK civil and military space-domain-awareness capabilities. These support operations, promote prosperity, and protect UK interests in space and on Earth from space-related threats, risks and hazards.