Australia joins global space debris coordination effort – and Deakin research is helping lead the way
Australia has joined the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) as an Associate Member, marking a major step in global efforts to protect the space environment.
Deakin University’s cutting-edge research into hypervelocity impacts, led by Associate Professor Shannon Ryan, is helping shape international debris mitigation strategies.
The European Space Agency estimates that more than 140 million pieces of space junk larger than 1 mm are currently orbiting Earth. Even fragments that small pose a serious threat to satellites and crewed missions like the International Space Station. That’s because they travel at extraordinary speeds. The average impact velocity in low Earth orbit is around 7 km/s, or 25,200 km/h. A 2-mm fragment travelling at that speed carries the same kinetic energy as a handgun bullet.
As space becomes increasingly congested, the risk of collisions and the cascading effect known as the Kessler Syndrome grows. That’s why the recent announcement that the Australian Space Agency has joined the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) as an Associate Member marks a significant step forward in our national commitment to space sustainability.
Behind this milestone is a growing body of Australian research that is helping shape global best practice in space debris mitigation, including work led by Associate Professor Shannon Ryan at Deakin University’s School of Engineering and Deakin Applied Artificial Intelligence Initiative.
“Space sustainability is no longer a niche concern – it’s a global imperative,” says A/Prof Ryan. “Our research is part of a broader effort to ensure that space remains safe and accessible for future generations.”
A/Prof Ryan’s team is pioneering the use of physics-informed AI to model and predict the effects of hypervelocity impacts, the kind caused by space debris and micrometeoroids. Their research is being used to design advanced shielding materials and spacecraft armour that can withstand these impacts, helping protect critical infrastructure in orbit.
This work not only contributes to the safety of current missions, but it also informs the Australian Space Agency’s technical input into international debris mitigation guidelines, including those developed by the IADC.
By combining advanced numerical simulation tools with AI-driven models, Deakin researchers are helping to build a more resilient and sustainable space environment. These advanced AI methods are contributing to debris mitigation projects here in Australia, with partners including UNSW@Canberra, RMIT University, and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), as well as in collaborative projects in Germany, Norway, and France.
“Space is critical to our way of life, so protecting the assets we rely on every day is a global challenge that requires a global effort,” said Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency. “The Australian Space Agency is proud to join the IADC and work with our domestic sector to contribute research and debris mitigation strategies. This work upholds international norms that protect the orbital environment for future generations.”