From: here@is.invalid   
      
   The Kessler syndrome is a theory proposed by NASA scientist Donald J.   
   Kessler in 1978, used to describe a self-sustaining cascading   
   collision of space debris in LEO.   
      
   The Kessler syndrome, also called the Kessler effect, collisional   
   cascading or ablation cascade, is a scenario in which the density of   
   objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is high enough that collisions   
   between objects could cause a cascade where each collision generates   
   space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions. One   
   implication is that the distribution of debris in orbit could render   
   space activities and the use of satellites in specific orbital ranges   
   impractical for many generations. Every satellite, space probe, and   
   manned mission has the potential to produce space debris. A cascading   
   Kessler syndrome becomes more likely as satellites in orbit increase   
   in number. The most commonly used orbits for both manned and unmanned   
   space vehicles are Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Clearly, the number of space   
   debris that naturally falls back into the atmosphere is less than the   
   number of those generated by the collision of existing space debris.   
   Even if all space activity and launch were halted tomorrow, the debris   
   population would continue to increase exponentially, leading to a   
   situation in which some orbits would become impassable in the long   
   run.   
      
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)