What is the approximate velocity objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) often exceed?
Answer
Exceeding 17,500 miles per hour (or about 28,000 kilometers per hour)
Objects residing in Low Earth Orbit travel at extreme velocities, which is the primary reason even tiny pieces of debris are dangerous. The text specifies that these tremendous speeds often surpass 17,500 miles per hour. This velocity is quantitatively equivalent to approximately 28,000 kilometers per hour. It is this high speed that translates the kinetic energy of even microscopic fragments, like paint flecks, into forces capable of pitting surfaces or compromising sensitive instruments on active satellites.
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