Kessler Syndrome

Kessler Syndrome is a theoretical scenario proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978, in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit becomes high enough that collisions between them generate more debris, triggering a cascade of further collisions. This runaway effect could eventually render certain orbital altitudes unusable for generations. With over 44,000 tracked objects and millions of smaller fragments already in orbit, managing collision risk is a growing priority. The scenario is not a sudden "event" but a gradual tipping point.