Rising threat of space debris raises concerns over Kessler Syndrome

WEB DESK: The increasing volume of space debris in Earth’s orbit poses a huge risk to operational satellites and spacecraft, a scenario known as Kessler Syndrome.

The debris includes defunct satellites, space rocket stages and fragments from previous collisions, have reached unprecedented levels.

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Scientists warn that the ‘space junk’ has created a hazardous environment  for future space activates, and, in effect, trapping humanity on the Earth.

With thousands of new satellites set to launch in the coming years, the potential for collisions is expected to rise. This will exacerbate the already critical issue of space debris.

The situation reignited discussions about the Kessler syndrome, a theoretical scenario first proposed by NASA scientist, Donald Kessler in 1978.

Kessler syndrome predicts that as the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) reached a critical threshold, the likelihood of collisions would increase, as well. This will lead to a cascade of debris generation.

A recent study published in the journal, Frontiers, noted that “they syndrome predicts an escalating space debris population that leads to an increased likelihood of collisions and further debris creation, resulting in a cascade of detrimental impacts”.

Even minor collisions can trigger a chain reaction, jeopardising existing satellites and filling orbits with high-velocity debris.

Experts cautioned that this could make access  to space increasingly difficult and hinder future exploration efforts.

The timeline  for the onset of Kessler syndrome could vary from decades to centuries, depending on factors such as satellite density, compliance with debris mitigation efforts and the occurrence of future collisions.

The implications of Kessler syndrome extend to a wide range of technologies reliant on satellites, with potential service outages affecting telecommunications and internet connectivity.

Current estimates indicate that over 47,000 objects are being tracked in space, up from 23,000 just ten years ago.

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The proliferation of space debris has been fuelled by collisions, military tests and accidental explosions, with incidents like the 2009 satellite collision generating thousands of new fragments.  

While experts disagree on the exact timeline for choking space junk, there is a consensus that the situation is critical.