Space Debris Monitor
Analyze orbital collision risks. Visualize the density of space junk in different orbits, calculate impact probabilities, and estimate mission insurance costs.
Configure orbital parameters to visualize debris field.
The Kessler Syndrome: A Growing Threat
Space is becoming crowded. Since the launch of Sputnik in 1957, humanity has sent thousands of rockets, satellites, and probes into orbit. Many of these remain there, defunct and uncontrolled. When two objects collide in space, they don't just break; they shatter into thousands of smaller fragments, each capable of causing further collisions. This cascading effect, known as the Kessler Syndrome, could eventually render Low Earth Orbit (LEO) unusable.
Why Size Matters
In orbit, objects travel at roughly 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h). At these velocities:
- > 10 cm: Tracked by ground radar (US Space Surveillance Network). Debris avoidance maneuvers are possible.
- 1 cm - 10 cm: Too small to track reliably, but large enough to destroy a satellite upon impact. This is the "Lethal Non-Trackable" zone.
- < 1 cm: Can be shielded against (Whipple shields), but causes surface degradation over time.
Mitigation and Removal
Current international guidelines require satellites to de-orbit within 25 years of mission end ("The 25-Year Rule"). However, compliance is mixed. Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions—using nets, harpoons, or robotic arms to capture and de-orbit large junk—are currently in experimental phases by companies like Astroscale and ClearSpace.