Near | Orbit

Near Earth Orbit (NEO), commonly defined as the region of space within 2,000 kilometers of the Earth's surface, has transitioned from a transient experimental zone to a permanent, congested, and contested operational domain. This paper examines the physical characteristics, strategic importance, and emergent challenges of near-orbit space. It argues that while NEO is indispensable for modern telecommunications, Earth observation, and the International Space Station (ISS), its sustainability is threatened by orbital debris, a lack of binding international traffic management, and the rapid proliferation of commercial megaconstellations. The paper concludes that near orbit is no longer a gateway to deep space but a critical operational theatre requiring urgent governance reform and active debris remediation.

Near orbit, also known as low Earth orbit (LEO), refers to the region of space where satellites and other objects orbit the Earth at an altitude of approximately 160 to 2,000 kilometers (100 to 1,200 miles). This region is of great interest for a variety of applications, including Earth observation, communication, navigation, and scientific research. near orbit