The Kessler syndrome is a theory proposed by NASA scientist Donald J.
Kessler in 1978, used to describe a self-sustaining cascading
collision of space debris in LEO.

The Kessler syndrome, also called the Kessler effect, collisional
cascading or ablation cascade, is a scenario in which the density of
objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is high enough that collisions
between objects could cause a cascade where each collision generates
space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions. One implication is that the distribution of debris in orbit could render
space activities and the use of satellites in specific orbital ranges impractical for many generations. Every satellite, space probe, and
manned mission has the potential to produce space debris. A cascading
Kessler syndrome becomes more likely as satellites in orbit increase
in number. The most commonly used orbits for both manned and unmanned
space vehicles are Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Clearly, the number of space
debris that naturally falls back into the atmosphere is less than the
number of those generated by the collision of existing space debris.
Even if all space activity and launch were halted tomorrow, the debris population would continue to increase exponentially, leading to a
situation in which some orbits would become impassable in the long
run.
<https://www.spacelegalissues.com/space-law-the-kessler-syndrome/>

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