What Neil deGrasse Tyson has said about Space debris and the Kessler syndrome

2 quotes · 1 episode · Sep 16, 2026

Neil deGrasse Tyson, American astrophysicist cited by Colbert as an ideal talk-show guest, has been quoted on Space debris and the Kessler syndrome 2 times in 1 episode of This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, most recently on September 16, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.

In their words

Tyson states that SpaceX has launched about 80 percent of satellites orbiting Earth.
“80% of all satellites orbiting the Earth were launched by SpaceX”
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: #683 - Neil deGrasse Tyson (Sep 16, 2026) · Listen from 1:15:52
Tyson warns orbital debris will worsen toward the Kessler effect threshold.
“So usually you don't hit any of it, but if this gets worse, which it will, there's something called a Kessler effect”
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: #683 - Neil deGrasse Tyson (Sep 16, 2026) · Listen from 1:18:26

#683 - Neil deGrasse Tyson
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von · Sep 16, 2026 · 2 h 20 min
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins Theo Von in New York to discuss his book Lost in Space, aliens, space debris, the billionaire space race and human tribalism.