October 2025 Report: Space Surveillance and Protection Activities by the NSpOC

Overview of Increased Space Activity and Operational Stability

Key Highlights:

• Surge in Traffic: Notable rise in monitored objects for re-entry and collision alerts.
• Impact of Re-Entry: 54 objects tracked, indicating a 15% increase from September.
• Collision Alerts: Significant rise to 2,402 alerts, a 56% increase from prior month.
• Orbital Environment Pressure: Continued growth in Registered Space Objects, reaching 31,676.

October 2025 Space Surveillance Report from NSpOC

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The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, Met Office, and UK Space Agency, has released a comprehensive report detailing space surveillance and protection activities for October 2025. The findings reveal critical insights into the dynamics of Earth’s orbital environment amid rising activity levels.

Increasing Activity in Space

October was marked by an uptick in space operations, characterized by a significant rise in uncontrolled re-entries and collision alerts compared to September. Fortunately, the overall risk levels remained below the 12-month rolling average, indicating effective operational performance. Throughout the month, all NSpOC warning and protection services functioned without interruption.

A Surge in Earth’s Atmospheric Traffic

This past month, NSpOC increased its monitoring efforts, leading to more objects being tracked in relation to atmospheric re-entry and potential in-orbit collisions.

Re-Entry Monitoring

The NSpOC reported monitoring 54 objects re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, marking a 15% increase from the 39 objects tracked in September. Most of these were satellites, with 52 classified as de-orbiting spacecraft and only two as rocket bodies. Notably, while this reflects a rebound in activity, October’s figures remain below the monthly average seen in the year preceding.

For context:

• January: 115 re-entries
• February: 129 re-entries
• August: 34 re-entries
• September: 39 re-entries

October’s total of 54 indicates a moderate resurgence in activity.

Collision Avoidance Analysis

In October, the risk level associated with in-orbit hazards affecting UK-licensed satellites escalated. The NSpOC registered 2,402 collision alerts, a staggering 56% increase from the 1,537 processed in September. This surge was primarily driven by a heightened frequency of close-approach interactions between UK-licensed spacecraft and both debris and operational satellites.

Historically:

• January: 2,694 alerts
• April: 2,620 alerts
• July: 1,038 alerts
• August: 971 alerts

The 2,402 alerts in October reflect a significant return to higher-volume tracking and assessment, approaching the levels experienced earlier in the year.

In-Orbit Population Dynamics

The overall census of tracked objects in space has continued to increase dramatically, exerting continuous pressure on the orbital environment.

Registered Space Objects (RSOs) Analysis

October witnessed a net addition of 160 objects to the US Satellite Catalogue, bringing the total number of Resident Space Objects (RSOs) to 31,676 by the end of the month. This trend is indicative of the increasing density in operational space, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by a crowded orbital environment.

Encouragingly, there were no reports of new fragmentation (break-up) incidents throughout October 2025, highlighting an absence of additional debris creation during this period.

Space Weather Considerations

The report also noted that space weather activity was slightly elevated in October, with multiple geomagnetic storms recorded. While this situation demanded heightened vigilance from space operators, no service disruptions were reported.

Conclusion

October 2025 has painted a vivid picture of the evolving landscape of space operations, revealing both challenges and advancements in the field of space surveillance. As traffic in Earth’s orbit continues to grow, agencies like NSpOC remain vigilant, ensuring the safety and sustainability of our increasingly crowded cosmic neighborhood. The collaborative efforts among the Ministry of Defence, Met Office, and UK Space Agency illustrate a robust commitment to mitigating risks and enhancing the safety of space operations for all.