Policy & sustainability · Sustainability
The Kessler Syndrome
The scenario, named for Donald Kessler, in which the density of objects in orbit becomes high enough that collisions cascade — each impact creating more debris that causes further impacts — potentially making some orbits unusable for generations.
Highlights
- ›A runaway cascade of orbital collisions
Treaties, bodies & topics
Knowledge connections
- Associated withOrbital Debris
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.