link . ▁While ▁the ▁increased ▁satellite ▁density ▁causes ▁concerns , ▁both ▁lic ens ing ▁authorities ▁and ▁the ▁manufact ur ers ▁are ▁well ▁aware ▁of ▁de br is ▁problems . ▁The ▁vend ors ▁must ▁have ▁de br is - redu ction ▁plans , ▁and ▁are ▁taking ▁measures ▁to ▁act ively ▁de - or bit ▁un ne eded ▁sat ell ites ▁and / or ▁ensure ▁their ▁or bits ▁will ▁decay ▁naturally . ▁ ▁Deb ris ▁history ▁in ▁particular ▁years ▁▁ ▁, ▁ 1 9 , 0 0 0 ▁de br is ▁over ▁ ▁were ▁track ed . ▁ ▁, ▁estimates ▁of ▁more ▁than ▁ 1 7 0 ▁million ▁de br is ▁smaller ▁than ▁, ▁about ▁ 6 7 0 , 0 0 0 ▁de br is ▁ 1 – 1 0   cm , ▁and ▁approximately ▁ 2 9 , 0 0 0 ▁larger ▁pieces ▁of ▁de br is ▁are ▁in ▁orbit . ▁ ▁, ▁nearly ▁ 1 8 , 0 0 0 ▁artificial ▁objects ▁are ▁orbit ing ▁above ▁Earth , ▁including ▁ 1 , 4 1 9 ▁oper ational ▁sat ell ites . ▁, ▁nearly ▁ 2 0 , 0 0 0 ▁artificial ▁objects ▁in ▁orbit ▁above ▁the ▁Earth , ▁including ▁ 2 , 2 1 8 ▁oper ational ▁sat ell ites . ▁ ▁Character ization ▁ ▁Size ▁ ▁There ▁are ▁estimated ▁to ▁be ▁over ▁ 1 2 8 ▁million ▁pieces ▁of ▁de br is ▁smaller ▁than ▁ ▁as ▁of ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁There ▁are ▁approximately ▁ 9 0 0