What theoretical scenario describes cascading collisions leading to an unusable orbital environment?
Answer
Kessler Syndrome
The Kessler Syndrome describes a specific, critical scenario in orbital mechanics where the density of objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) becomes so high that collisions between objects create a chain reaction. When one collision generates thousands of fragments, those fragments increase the probability of further collisions, creating an exponential cascade of debris generation. If this process continues unchecked, the resulting debris field would render certain orbital altitudes unusable for future space operations for extended periods due to the overwhelming risk of immediate impact with any active satellite.
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