The Speed Problem
Kinetic Energy vs. Familiar Objects
Each bar represents kinetic energy in joules at orbital velocity. Red bars show impact energy exceeding some military explosives.
Calculate Impact Energy
Adjust the mass and speed of a debris object to see its kinetic energy in real terms.
The Cascade Effect
Why debris doesn't just accumulate — it multiplies.
Initial Impact
A single hypervelocity collision shatters both objects into thousands of high-velocity fragments. Each fragment retains much of the original object's orbital energy.
Fragmentation Cloud
Fragments spread across a range of orbital altitudes. At LEO densities, each new fragment has a non-zero probability of striking another object within months or years.
Self-Sustaining Cascade
Above a critical density threshold, collisions produce fragments faster than atmospheric drag can remove them. The cascade becomes self-sustaining, potentially rendering LEO unusable for centuries.
The Math Behind This Page
For the technically curious.
Kinetic Energy Formula: KE = ½mv² Where m = mass in kilograms, v = velocity in meters/second At orbital velocity (7,800 m/s): - 1g object: KE = 0.5 × 0.001 × 7,800² = 30,420 J - 10g object: KE = 0.5 × 0.01 × 7,800² = 304,200 J - 1kg object: KE = 0.5 × 1 × 7,800² = 30,420,000 J TNT Equivalent Conversion: 1 gram TNT = 4,184 Joules KE_TNT = KE(J) / 4,184 Sources: Kessler & Cour-Palais (1978), NASA ODPO, ESA Space Debris User's Handbook
This calculator was built by Dhruv Lagu as part of independent research into orbital debris policy. The physics formulas are standard Newtonian mechanics applied to orbital velocity parameters from ESA's Annual Space Environment Report.
From Equations to Action
Physics defines the collision cascade threat. Policy defines our response. See why international space law is currently failing to stop the cascade.