Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell explains why we need an international space traffic control agency

Summary

Carys Garland is pleased to welcome Jonathan McDowell, Astrophysicist, Space Sustainability Analyst and Spaceflight Historian at Durham University Space Research Centre (SPARC). As we enter a new era of sustained lunar activity, and space exploration, the accidental impact of a four-ton SpaceX rocket stage on the Moon exposes the growing gap between our expanding presence in space and the institutions needed to manage it responsibly. He moves beyond the mechanics of the collision to a broader reflection on sustainability, risk, and international coordination. While the impact itself presents no danger to Earth, it reveals how unmanaged space infrastructure could threaten future astronauts, scientific installations, and the long-term viability of lunar exploration.