Kessler Syndrome
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Kessler Syndrome (Cascade Collision, Ablation Collision) is a scenario whereby space debris exponentially increases due to space pollution, rendering the space around a celestial object unusable.
Lore: Elysium Kessler Crisis
November 16th, 2109
On November 16th 2109 2053 local time, the Federation of Central States conducted a Theater Anti-Satellite Missile test against a derelict satellite in LEO which had been scheduled for decommissioning. The resulting debris field began an exponential cycle of destruction, causing all satellites, stations, and ships outside geostationary orbit to be destroyed in under six hours.
The effects were far reaching and immediate. Elysium’s colonies declared independence with no repercussions, ships defected to their colonies of origin, and the balance of power forever shaken as the great powers suddenly found themselves without access to the void.
Timeline
November 13th, 2109 - 1400 Federation Time - High Marshal Provst authorizes a Yari II ASAT test, forgoing a study that concludes that an ASAT test would cause a heavy debris field.
November 16th, 2109 - 2053 Federation Time - Army Missile Command’s A Complex launches the Yari II ASAT.
November 16th, 2109 - 2104 Federation Time - Yari II misses its target but the failsafe is unable to disarm the blast frag warhead. The resulting blast puts fragments as far out as High Elysium Orbit.
November 16th, 2109 - 2200 Federation Time - A Koriko Telecom satellite is hit by debris and shatters into several hundred smaller debris pieces, impacting other Koriko satellites in its constellation a few minutes later.
November 16th, 2109 - 2214 Federation Time - The FCSN Probable Cause is struck by debris from the Koriko Satellites and mistakes it for an enemy missile attack. Before being critically damaged, the ship’s crew launched its 72 point defense missiles blindly. It’s thought that Probable Cause was operating dark and was unable to receive orders.
November 16th, 2109 - 2332 Federation Time - A military weather satellite is struck by fragments and begins cascading in Middle Elysium Orbit. A few minutes later, a decommissioned GPS satellite is hit by debris and cascades in High Elysium Orbit.
November 16th, 2109 - 2345 Federation Time - The Elysium Starport Exadel issues a warning for all ships in MEO and HEO to break for open space as the station’s particle radar has begun going haywire due to the amount of debris present. Exadel’s maneuvering thrusters push the station out into open space.
November 17th, 2109 - 0000 Federation Time - President Vatari formally announces a state of emergency in a late night press conference.
November 17th, 2109 - 0050 Federation Time - Almost all satellites in LEO are impacted. A civilian space station is destroyed after its maneuvering section is hit, leaving it spinning.
November 17th, 2109 - 0120 Federation Time - Satellites in MEO begin forming a debris cloud. An hour later, satellites in HEO begin forming a debris cloud. Thanks to Exadel’s warning, no ships are impacted.
November 17th, 2109 - 0320 Federation Time - The space around Elysium is declared unusable.
November 17th, 2109 - 1023 Federation Time - Selene formally declares independence under the ‘Selene Provisional Government.’ In the following days, almost all colonies declares their independence.