A breathtaking set of images highlighting the challenges posed by the countless human-made fragments circling Earth is on display at the Royal Astronomical Society in London.
Created by photographer and storyteller Max Alexander in collaboration with the European Space Agency, Our Fragile Space made its debut in 2022 at Lloyds of London, the world’s leading insurance marketplace. It has since been featured at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the New York Stock Exchange, the European Parliament in Brussels, and many other locations worldwide.
Reflecting on the motivation behind the exhibition, Max said, “Space technology is becoming ever more intertwined in our everyday lives but, as the number of satellite launches has increased, so has the amount of debris in orbit. This poses a risk to vital services on which we rely, such as navigation and Earth observation, while also impacting astronomy and indigenous communities with deep connections to the night sky.
“Our Fragile Space advocates the need to address this pressing issue for the benefit of everyone on Earth.”
To create the exhibition, Max travelled the world to collect personal stories of space experts and people whose daily lives are already being impacted by space debris.
This journey included visits to several to ESA facilities, such as the agency’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Germany, where engineers are leading research into the tracking, modelling and mitigation of orbital debris.
The exhibition hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society includes several new additions focusing on the impact of orbital debris on astronomy and indigenous communities.
One image features the Karamojong people, who are pastoral nomads living in northeastern Uganda. The Karamojong interpret changes in the night sky as signals to harvest crops early or to make other changes to their normal living patterns, meaning that the increased visibility of launches and satellite constellations is potentially disruptive to their way of life.
Max concluded, “Over the past three years, Our Fragile Space has raised awareness amongst decision-makers and the wider public of the growing threat of orbital debris and the need to take positive steps to protect Earth’s near-space environment.
“The exhibition continues to help shape global efforts to tackle the challenge of space debris, with its most significant legacy being its contribution to the UK Space Agency's In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) framework.”
You can see Our Fragile Space for free and without booking until 10 May in the courtyard of Burlington House, London, which is home to the Royal Astronomical Society and five other learned societies.
Facts Only
* An exhibition titled Our Fragile Space is displayed at the Royal Astronomical Society in London.
* The exhibition features images created by photographer Max Alexander in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
* The exhibition highlights the challenges posed by human-made fragments in orbit.
* Our Fragile Space debuted in 2022 at Lloyds of London.
* The exhibition has been featured at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the New York Stock Exchange, and the European Parliament in Brussels.
* Max Alexander collected personal stories from space experts and people impacted by space debris.
* Alexander visited ESA facilities, including the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Germany.
* One image features the Karamojong people of northeastern Uganda.
* The Karamojong interpret changes in the night sky as signals for harvesting crops or changing living patterns.
* The exhibition contributes to the UK Space Agency's In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) framework.
* The exhibition is free to view until May 10th in the courtyard of Burlington House, London.
Executive Summary
A space debris exhibition titled Our Fragile Space is currently on display at the Royal Astronomical Society in London. The exhibition features images created by photographer Max Alexander in collaboration with the European Space Agency. The work addresses the challenges posed by human-made fragments orbiting Earth and the resulting risks to navigation, Earth observation, astronomy, and indigenous communities.
The exhibition stems from the increasing amount of orbital debris resulting from increased satellite launches. Max Alexander collected personal stories of space experts and impacted people during his journey to gather content for the project. These stories included visits to ESA facilities, such as the European Space Operations Centre in Germany.
The exhibition highlights specific impacts, including the disruption of traditional knowledge among groups like the Karamojong people, whose interpretation of the night sky is linked to their pastoral way of life. The exhibition contributes to global efforts to address the debris challenge, including supporting the UK Space Agency's In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) framework. The exhibition is free to view until May 10th in London.
Full Take
The narrative frames space debris as an urgent existential threat requiring immediate action, linking complex orbital mechanics and policy to profound cultural and human experiences. The structure uses the personal journey of the photographer to legitimize a broad, systemic problem, positioning the threat not just as a technical issue for engineers but as an impact on vulnerable communities and traditional knowledge systems.
This framing leverages the psychological power of moral panic by connecting abstract scientific risks to tangible, immediate consequences for indigenous populations and everyday life. The focus on the Karamojong people demonstrates an effort to broaden the scope beyond purely technological concerns, introducing the concept of deep-time, cultural disruption as a measure of environmental harm.
The presence of collaborative efforts (ESA, UK Space Agency) alongside community voices suggests a deliberate attempt to build an inclusive consensus around mitigation. However, the urgency of the narrative—raised through the calls for "positive steps"—must be critically examined against the established timelines and resource allocation for orbital debris mitigation. The final legacy cited, the ISAM framework, represents a concrete policy outcome, yet the systemic failure of the orbital environment remains the core concern.
Patterns detected: ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey, ARC-0024 Ambiguity, ARC-0021 Authority Games
Sentinel — Human
The content exhibits the characteristics of human-authored journalistic reporting, utilizing specific anecdotal evidence and a nuanced narrative structure.