A theorized runaway process in low Earth orbit in which the density of artificial debris and satellites becomes high enough that collisions between objects generate more debris, increasing the collision rate in a self sustaining cascade. First articulated in 1978 by NASA scientists Donald Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais, it underlies current concern about orbital debris management and mitigation policy.
Facts
Concept Domain Formulated Year Connections
Associated With
The International Space Station has repeatedly maneuvered to avoid tracked debris, the hazard the Kessler scenario describes.
Orbital debris cascading is a hazard studied within orbital mechanics and spaceflight operations.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationKessler syndrome, History section
In June 1978, Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais co-authored 'Collision Frequency of
Kessler syndrome, History, NORAD Gabbard and Kessler section
In June 1978, Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais co-authored 'Collision Frequency of Artificial Satellites: The Creation of a Debris Belt'
- Associated With: Orbital Mechanics
View the Source Kessler syndrome (Wikipedia)
Kessler syndrome, lead paragraph section
describes a situation in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) becomes so high due to space pollution that collisions between these objects cascade
Kessler syndrome, Wikipedia - lead section
The Kessler syndrome, also known as the Kessler effect, collisional cascading, o
In Group: Orbital Debris, Lead sentence
It describes a situation in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) becomes so high due to space pollution that collisions between these objects cascade, exponentially increasing the amount of space debris over time.
View the SourceFrequently Asked Questions
Has the Kessler syndrome already happened?
Not fully, but real collisions and debris-generating events show the risk is not hypothetical.
Not in the full runaway sense Donald Kessler described in 1978, but low Earth orbit has already seen cascading collision events that illustrate the risk: the accidental 2009 collision between the active Iridium 33 satellite and the defunct Cosmos 2251, and China's 2007 anti-satellite weapon test against its own Fengyun-1C satellite, both created large, long-lived debris fields. Orbital debris density in some altitude bands is rising, and mission planners now treat collision avoidance and debris mitigation as standard practice.
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