Actually the Kesler syndrome, a space debriss cascade is a very real threat and a real concern. I suggest an interview with the commander of the space control quadron in a radiolab episode "Little Big Questions"
> the Kesler syndrome, a space debriss cascade is a very real threat and a real concern
Itβs also widely misunderstood.
The risk is in trashing specific orbits. Below 600 km, that would mean certain orbits are too polluted to use for a few months to years. (A dense, compact object above 600 km could stay lofted for decades to over a century. But again, only within a predictable volume.)
It's actually mostly because we allow objects to fly too high. Small height differences have a huge difference in orbital lifetime (and therefore risk).
