Additionally, I hypothesise that orbital colissions usually result in loss of altitude. A satellite doesn't just migrate to a higher orbit. Higher orbits requi

Additionally, I hypothesise that orbital colissions usually result in loss of altitude. A satellite doesn't just migrate to a higher orbit. Higher orbits require higher velocities, therefore require energy input. For a collision to result in higher orbits it would have to be either with a rogue (not orbiting) object that caught up, or an object in a highly eliptical object that caught up. Head on collisions transform kinetic energy into other forms including thermal, therefore reducing the velocities of both objects.