Largest satellite fragmentation event

The largest satellite breakup event, in terms of the number of trackable objects generated, was the intentional destruction of the Chinese weather satellite Fengyun 1C (object 1999-025A) on 11 Jan 2007. It was destroyed by a kinetic anti-satellite weapon as part of a test by the Chinese military. The satellite's destruction created 3,430 pieces of trackable orbital debris (fragments measuring at least 10-cm across) and an estimated 150,000 smaller pieces.

This test is regarded as the worst contamination of low Earth orbit in the history of human activity in space. This is not only because of the number of debris fragments generated, but also because of the altitude at which the test was conducted. As more than half the debris fragments settled into orbits above 850 km, they will likely remain in orbit for several decades, or even centuries.

The original satellite had a roughly cubic body, measuring 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) on each side and a mass of 950 kg (2,094 lb). It collided with the kinetic kill vehicle (the upper stage of a modified ballistic missile) at a velocity of around 28,800 km/h (17,900 mph). The anti-satellite weapon contained no explosives as just the kinetic energy of the collision was enough to completely destroy anything it hit.

Around 3,000 of the 10,000 debris objects that are tracked as a potential threat to the International Space Station were created by this test.