AGU24 Press conference: Space Debris: Preventing the Runaway ‘Kessler Syndrome’

This press conference was recorded at AGU's 2024 Annual Meeting on 11 December 2024.

While only pieces of space debris larger than 10 centimeters can be reliably tracked, those as small as one centimeter can damage or even destroy a satellite. There are now an estimated 1 million pieces of debris this size, as well as 26,000 softball-sized pieces with a collision energy comparable to a large bomb, in Low Earth Orbit. Because high-altitude debris can remain in orbit for decades, it accumulates over time, increasing the risk of additional collisions, which would create still more debris and hence more collisions. If current trends are extrapolated, the number of catastrophic collisions could rise significantly, leading to a runaway cascade of accumulating space debris known as the Kessler Syndrome, which could jeopardize the use of Low Earth Orbit and human spaceflight. This media event will highlight the regulatory and scientific aspects of space debris in Low Earth Orbit.

Panelists:

Daniel Baker, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
Thomas Berger, University of Colorado Boulder Space Weather Technology, Research and Education Center
David Malaspina, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
Tsige Atilaw, University of Michigan