Since Sputnik 1 lifted off in 1957, objects have been steadily accumulating in orbit. Today, space networks track roughly 40,000 pieces circling Earth. About 11,000 of these are active satellites; the rest are junk. Yet these are only visible fragments. The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that more than 1.2 million objects larger than one centimeter, each capable of causing catastrophic damage, are currently circling the planet. Despite decades of warnings, governments and private companies have continued launching missions with little plan for what happens after their useful life. The result is a growing halo of waste around Earth, and the trend is accelerating.