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With so many objects in Earth orbit, what is the likelihood of collisions between orbital debris and operational spacecraft?

April 26, 2017collisions debris earth objects operational Orbit ORBITAL spacecraft

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With so many objects in Earth orbit, what is the likelihood of collisions between orbital debris and operational spacecraft?

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Operational spacecraft are struck by very small debris (and micrometeoroids) routinely with little or no effect. Debris shields can also protect spacecraft components from particles are large as 1 cm in diameter. The probability of two large objects (> 10 cm in diameter) accidentally colliding is very low. Only three such incidents between objects from different missions have been recorded.

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Operational spacecraft are struck by very small debris (and micrometeoroids) routinely with little or no effect. Debris shields can also protect spacecraft components from particles are large as 1 cm in diameter. The probability of two large objects (> 10 cm in diameter) accidentally colliding is very low. The worst such incident occurred on 10 February 2009 when an operational U.S. Iridium satellite and a derelict Russian Cosmos satellite collided. 16).