“So we are heading towards the situation that we are always dreading.”The event Reddy referred to is a hypothetical phenomenon called Kessler Syndrome. Named for American astrophysicist Donald Kessler and based on his 1978 academic paper, Kessler Syndrome — as the term is used today — has a muddy definition. Given that “Kessler Syndrome” is not an instantaneous event, scientists are debating whether the phenomenon could already be in motion. The researchers interviewed for this story offered differing perspectives on whether events indicative of Kessler Syndrome had already kicked off. But Frueh said that’s why she no longer believes Kessler Syndrome is a useful term.

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Persons: ”, Vishnu Reddy, Reddy, Donald Kessler, Kessler, J . Mai, Bob Hall, fleck, Alan Dyer, VWPics, Carolin Frueh, Frueh, Purdue’s Frueh, “, ” Frueh, Thomas Berger, Berger, Dan Oltrogge, “ Kessler, Dr, Nilton, Renno, Arizona’s Reddy Organizations: CNN, Space Station, NASA, University of Arizona, European Conference, European Space Agency, ESA, US, Iridium, US Air Force, COMSPOC Corp, Space Shuttle Challenger, astronautics, Purdue University in, GEO, University of Colorado’s, Weather Technology, Research, Education, Space Standards, University of Michigan, Companies, Systems, GmbH, ION, United Nations, University Locations: Tucson, Darmstadt, Germany, United States, Russia, India, China, Russian, Purdue University in Indiana, Washington ,