4 ms·
In the context of Kessler syndrome, objects that are doomed to deorbit after a collision can still be a "real problem." They just need to remain in orbit long e
by justin66 7y ago
In the context of Kessler syndrome, objects that are doomed to deorbit after a collision can still be a "real problem." They just need to remain in orbit long enough to hit something else to contribute to the domino effect behind Kessler syndrome.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- dredmorbius 7y agoIt's effectively an epidemiological transmissibility or chain-reaction question. If a given debris item strikes, on average, <1 other objects before deorbiting, then the Kessler cloud will (eventually) disperse, absent new objects being inserted. If a given debris item strikes, on average, 1 other object, the Kessler cloud is self-sustaining (or at least until particle size drops to some minimum). And if a given debris item strikes, on average >1 other objects, the cloud grows and the collision rate increases with time, again until the material is sufficiently dispersed and/or eventually deorbits. Launching new satellites sustains this equation. Accidental or intentional debris-field creation of course greatly exacerbates it. (What the theshold is for >1 collisions I have no idea, I suspect there's research on this.)