Kessler Syndrome: Space junk could lead to real crises?

Last updated on December 28th, 2024 at 01:22 pm

Numerous countries have been launching thousands of satellites and other objects into orbit. These entities are important for modern life. But there is one important question. What happens to these satellites as they age and stop functioning?

Many fragments of these satellites remain in the ever-expanding space junkyard. These objects are too expensive to be removed. But they continue to pose serious threats to future satellites and manned space missions.

Recently, the International Space Station had to take precautionary measures to avoid a piece of space junk. The Russian cargo ship on board had to fire its thrusters for more than 5 minutes to create extra distance from the incoming debris.

The European Space Agency has alerted that the increasing space debris could lead to a theoretical scenario turned into reality, called the Kessler Syndrome. If left unchecked, the increasing accumulation of space debris could lead to a cascade of collisions.