RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The sustainability of Earth's satellite environment has become increasingly important as modern societies rely on space infrastructure for communications, transportation, agriculture and economic activities. According to Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), unchecked growth in satellites and space debris could eventually affect services used every day by billions of people.

Head of BRIN's Research Organization for Aeronautics and Space, Robertus Heru Triharjanto, said on Thursday, August 6, 2026 that satellites now play a critical role in monitoring crops, combating illegal fishing, supporting navigation systems, managing air traffic and providing global internet connectivity.

"This infrastructure creates big efficiencies to the process that people are doing, creates a lot of economic impact to the improvement of our welfare. So its sustainability is very important,” he told RRI Voice of Indonesia in commemoration of Indonesia’s Space Day on August 6.

Heru warned that if Earth's orbit becomes increasingly congested, satellite-based services that support everyday activities could face growing risks.

"Just because someone can afford to deploy thousands of thousands of satellites, it doesn't care how to dispose the debris. So it would create congestion in the future that will limit space application in the future,” he warned.

He also said people should expect to witness more objects resembling meteors in the future as retired rockets and satellites are intentionally brought back into Earth's atmosphere for disposal. According to him, most of these objects will burn up before reaching the ground, while larger spacecraft should be directed to fall into oceans to avoid populated areas.

Heru said maintaining a healthy satellite ecosystem will require stronger international cooperation and responsible disposal practices to ensure that space continues to support scientific progress, economic development and public welfare. He pointed out that disposing of space debris is a challenge to keep the space ecosystem sustainable, calling for international collaboration.