Since the USSR launched Sputnik in 1957, the number of satellites in LEO has grown leading to an increasing threat of collisions. The Space Safety Coalition, a confederation of voluntary participants, has established a set of guidelines to mitigate the risk of interruption of vital space services that could arise if collisions occur. The SSC published the Best Practices for the Sustainability of Space Operations in September 2019 with 42 recommendations affecting not only the design of spacecraft but on-orbit procedures to ensure long term safety and sustainability.
Cutting-edge technology enabling settlement of the solar system and beyond – Art by Rick Guidice / NASA