Dr. Moriba Jah, Privateer co-founder and space domain awareness expert, highlights the ratio of space debris to active satellites in orbit.
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Jah: Inferring intent from satellite capability risks escalatory space conflict
“People are using prejudice to just get rid of that uncertainty. And they're saying, Hey, if the opportunity and the capability is there, if I'm a U S satellite and there's a Chinese satellite that is in the same orbit, not even close in the same orbit as me an…”
Assertion Supported
Jah: 96% of objects launched into space become non-functional garbage
“96% of the stuff that we put in space to turn out To be garbage.”
Assertion Supported
Jah: SpaceX operates nearly 3,000 satellites at a 500-kilometer altitude
“Elon has almost 3000 satellites at 500 kilometer altitude, and it would be wise for you to talk to Elon before you try to go through the orbital shell that he has.”
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Jah: Unchanged behavior will saturate orbital highway capacity
“I predict with absolute certainty, if our behavior doesn't change, there will be orbital highways whose capacity will be saturated, and we'll, we're just gonna see an increasing amount of undesirable outcomes occur.”
Assertion Partly supported
Jah: In 2006, orbit had 1,200 satellites and 26,000 pieces of debris
“At that time in 2006, there were only 1200 working satellites and 26,000 pieces of garbage.”
Assertion Supported
Jah: Governments, not private companies, bear international liability for space damage
“In terms of international law, all the responsibility for liability, damage, harmful interference, doesn't fall on the shoulders of companies. It's on governments that give them license and authorize them to actually operate in space.”