Fifty Objects Halve Debris Risk

A new analysis presented at the International Astronautical Congress finds that removing the 50 highest‑risk objects in low‑Earth orbit—mostly old rocket upper stages—would cut the debris‑generation potential by about 50% (and the top 10 by 30%). Most culprits are pre‑2000 rocket bodies, while recent upper‑stage abandonments (especially from China’s megaconstellation launches) are accelerating the problem. — It reframes space‑debris mitigation from an overwhelming cleanup to a targeted, enforceable priority list, sharpening pressure for norms, enforcement, and dual‑use RPO oversight.