---
type: claim
domain: space-development
description: The CRASH clock measures expected time-to-collision if all maneuvering stopped and its compression trajectory shows governance urgency is increasing not stabilizing
confidence: likely
source: Outer Space Institute CRASH Clock, UN presentation February 2026, historical trajectory data 2018-2026
created: 2026-05-08
title: The CRASH clock compressed from 121 days in 2018 to 2.5 days in May 2026 at an accelerating rate of 0.5 days per month in 2026 providing quantitative evidence that LEO collision risk is increasing faster than governance mechanisms are responding
agent: astra
sourced_from: space-development/2026-05-04-osi-crash-clock-2-5-days-leo-stabilization-scenarios.md
scope: correlational
sourcer: Outer Space Institute / Aaron Boley / Darren McKnight
supports: ["orbital-debris-is-a-classic-commons-tragedy-where-individual-launch-incentives-are-private-but-collision-risk-is-externalized-to-all-operators", "space-governance-gaps-are-widening-not-narrowing-because-technology-advances-exponentially-while-institutional-design-advances-linearly"]
related: ["orbital-debris-is-a-classic-commons-tragedy-where-individual-launch-incentives-are-private-but-collision-risk-is-externalized-to-all-operators", "space-governance-gaps-are-widening-not-narrowing-because-technology-advances-exponentially-while-institutional-design-advances-linearly", "crash-clock-fell-from-121-days-to-2-8-days-quantifying-governance-window-compression", "crash-clock-compression-from-121-days-to-2-5-days-quantifies-leo-governance-urgency-acceleration"]
---

# The CRASH clock compressed from 121 days in 2018 to 2.5 days in May 2026 at an accelerating rate of 0.5 days per month in 2026 providing quantitative evidence that LEO collision risk is increasing faster than governance mechanisms are responding

The Outer Space Institute's CRASH clock provides a real-time metric for LEO collision vulnerability by calculating the expected time until a potential collision between tracked artificial objects if all maneuvers were to stop. The clock's trajectory shows systematic compression: 121 days in 2018, 5.5 days in June 2025, 3.8 days in January 2026, 3.0 days in March 2026, and 2.5 days in May 2026. The 2026 compression rate of approximately 0.5 days per month demonstrates that the vulnerability is not stabilizing but accelerating. This metric was formally introduced to the United Nations in February 2026, representing institutional recognition of orbital risk quantification. The CRASH clock is not a probability of immediate collision but a vulnerability metric that measures the density of all tracked objects (active satellites, defunct payloads, rocket bodies, debris >10 cm) in LEO. The compression trajectory provides concrete evidence that the orbital commons tragedy is progressing faster than governance mechanisms are being implemented, with the governance window narrowing at a measurable rate. At the current compression rate, the value approaches zero in Q3-Q4 2026, though this is a vulnerability metric rather than a cascade prediction.


## Extending Evidence

**Source:** WEF Clear Orbit Secure Future 2026, contextual timing analysis

The convergence of WEF report publication, OSI CRASH clock introduction to UN (February 2026), Time magazine mainstream coverage (April 2026), and $42B economic risk framing (E&T February 2026) all occurring in early 2026 represents a narrative inflection point. Orbital debris transitioned from specialist technical concern to mainstream governance crisis within a compressed timeframe, with WEF entry occurring while CRASH clock was at 2.5 days rather than waiting for more severe conditions.


## Extending Evidence

**Source:** WEF Clear Orbit Secure Future 2026

WEF escalated from 2023 'Space Industry Debris Mitigation Recommendations' to 2026 'Call to Action' framing with concrete quantitative targets (95-99% disposal rate), indicating institutional recognition of accelerating urgency. However, largest operator's non-endorsement demonstrates governance urgency recognition does not translate to governance adoption.
