The Kessler Syndrome: Crisis in Space Intensifies as Thousands of Satellites Crowd Earth Orbit

Earth's orbit is filling up with junk. Greenhouse gases are making the problem worse.

Grist reports that by the end of the century, a shrinking atmosphere could create a minefield for satellites.

The Kessler Syndrome: Crisis in Space Intensifies as Thousands of Satellites Crowd Earth Orbit

Conceptual art showing a satellite collision (Credit: ESA). Welcome to this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief… as SpaceX’s Starlink constellation continues to raise the number of operational satellites in orbit, scientists are raising alarms about the growing threat of space debris. In our analysis this week, we’ll be looking at 1) the potential onset of the Kessler Syndrome, 2) how a cascading chain reaction of orbital collisions cou…

Scientists raise alarm after uncovering growing threat circling Earth: 'There are millions of pieces of it'

Space junk in Earth's orbit may increase because of the effects of the same heat-trapping gases that are polluting the air and warming the planet, according to a recent study. What's happening? A team led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers determined that, with Earth's warming, space debris could accumulate enough to reduce the low Earth orbit area available for satellites by between a third and 82% by the year 2100, as the Ass…

Earth’s satellite wars mean a perilous future for space and humanity

Thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit could create a doom loop of dangerous debris and Julia Musto details the problem