Kessler syndrome
Kessler syndrome is a scenario in which collisions between orbiting objects create debris that triggers more collisions, cascading until parts of low Earth orbit become hazardous to use.
Proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978, it is a growing concern as satellite numbers climb into the tens of thousands.
Each collision multiplies the tracked-debris population, which is why active satellites, dead hardware and fragments are all monitored closely.
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Related terms
- Conjunction — In satellite tracking, a conjunction is a close approach between two orbiting objects — a predicted near-miss operators watch in case a collision-avoidance manoeuvre is needed.
- Atmospheric reentry — Atmospheric reentry is the return of a spacecraft or piece of debris into Earth's atmosphere, where friction and compression heat it to thousands of degrees.
- Satellite constellation — A satellite constellation is a group of satellites working together as one system to give continuous or global coverage that a single satellite cannot.
