In recent years it has become clear that the increasing population of space debris could lead to catastrophic consequences in the near term. The Kessler syndrome (where the density of objects in orbit is high enough that collisions could set off a cascade) is now more realistic than when it was first proposed in 1978. Although statistically less likely to occur than an orbital collision, an asteroid impact on Earth could have devastating consequences. Asteroids and space debris represent a significant hazard for both space and terrestrial assets; at the same time asteroids also represent an opportunity.
Index
2016-01-01
22 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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