Challenges of Space Debris Detection, Tracking, and Monitoring in Near-Earth Orbit: Overview of Current Status and Mitigation Strategies

The accumulation of space debris in near-Earth orbit, particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), poses an increasing threat to satellite operations, communication infrastructures, and long-term space sustainability. As modern constellations expand and incorporate advanced satellite technologies, including sensing and wireless communications, artificial intelligence-of-things (AIoT), enabled payloads, and edge computing for on-orbit data processing, the risk profile grows. This paper reviews the current debris environment and existing sensing and monitoring techniques, highlights major collision events and deliberate debris-generating activities, and analyzes the role of both governmental and commercial satellite constellations in exacerbating and mitigating the challenges. Emerging space surveillance and tracking (SST) techniques, leveraging radar, optical sensors, and interferometric SAR for enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), are highlighted alongside software-defined networking (SDN) approaches and cloud communication technology that enable coordinated debris-avoidance maneuvers. Key international regulatory frameworks, tracking architectures, and mitigation measures, including alignment with ISO 24113 standards, advanced TT&C capabilities, and evolving active debris removal technologies, are examined. The study emphasizes the necessity of a global, interoperable ecosystem that integrates AI/ML (artificial intelligence and machine learning)-driven situational awareness, secure SATCOM links with AJ/LPI/LPD (anti-jamming/low probability of interception/low probability of detection) characteristics, and collaborative protocols among space agencies, commercial operators, and regulatory bodies to ensure the sustainable use of orbital space for future generations.