Can we remove 1,000 debris objects per year?

At CERN's i2Planet workshop, our team compared multiple debris-removal technologies:
- Robotic capture systems
- De-orbit sail modules
- Laser nudging systems
- Micro-debris capture concepts
- AI-driven tracking networks
Instead of asking "can we remove debris?" we asked "can we scale removal sustainably?" One modelled scenario explored mass-produced de-orbit modules that attach to debris, increase drag and enable passive re-entry while reducing fragmentation risk.
The key question wasn't just technology — it was scalability + economics + governance. Removing 5 objects a year doesn't stabilise orbit. Removing hundreds might.
