Dangers of Space Junk

What are the risks associated with space junk? In this video, we explore low Earth orbit, where there are thousands of objects, many of which are no longer functional. The danger posed by these objects is that of a “Kessler Cascade.” This is a process in which one satellite would break up and crash into another satellite, which would then break up, causing a wave of collisions. The shrapnel from these collisions would fill low Earth orbit, making it unusable for the satellites which help our society function. But scientists are experimenting with ways to prevent a Kessler Cascade, including lasers, bags, and harpoons!