SpaceX launched its tenth Starlink mission and brought astronauts back to earth in a historical landing this month. But new designs by the star map company, Under Lucky Stars, have exposed the destructive impacts exploration could cause on future space travel and the environment.
The data shows the increasing danger created by the number of objects being sent into space as they leave debris after their launches.
For about 70 years, humans have been launching vessels into space to explore the world beyond earth.
Over the years the number of space missions have increased as technology continues to advance.
Zoltan Toth-Czifra, the founder of Under Lucky Stars, told Express.co.uk about the risks space exploration poses.
He said: “The main danger lies in that the more objects present in space increase the chances of future collisions.
“If we get to the point of commercial human space travel for example, it will be imperative for safety that there be as little debris and space junk as possible.”
This comes as SpaceX have been increasing their efforts to send humans to Mars.
The space company recently tested a prototype of the next-generation Starship vehicle which could be paving the way to carrying humans to the Moon and Mars.
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Mr Toth-Czifra added: “Even though we have an increased knowledge of space, there are still mysteries to us on how this could impact us in the future.
“There is now more than 22,000 pieces of space debris orbiting the earth, which has drastically increased in the last five years as space activity steps up, and the threat will grow as more launches are permitted.”
SpaceX have been creating design updates to reduce the impacts on the night’s sky including darkening satellites so they do not disrupt space observations.
But Mr Toth-Czifra highlights how these are only being trailed and have not actually been implemented across the satellites already launched.
He said: “So the solution still doesn’t feel close. And it feels there isn’t much being done in relation to the volume being sent.”
Last week, Amazon also confirmed new launches of over 3,000 satellites “which means the risks will continue to increase as more companies get involved” Mr Toth-Czifra explained.
He said governments need to take more action to facilitate the monitoring of these launches to address the serious lack of regulation.
He added: “Different methods are being trialled to clear up space junk, but if we don’t start to implement these soon, damage may be irreparable, as new, live technology may be surrounded by debris, making it harder to clean up around company-owned technology.
“But the real threat is the damage to the night sky, the satellites are highly reflective and significantly brighter than any man-made object in orbit. If we aren’t careful, our stars will cease to be easily identified in a sea of satellites.”
SpaceX did not immediately respond to Express.co.uk‘s requests for comment.