Before the collision, Iridium had a group of sixty-six satellites in orbit.

VOA: special.2009.04.01

The collision changed the orientation and orbit of the Russian satellite, which was being used in scientific experiments, Kelso said.

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It holds that the Moon formed from the debris kicked into orbit by the collision of a smaller proto-planet with the infant Earth.

BBC: Moon formation: New spins put on old questions

The debris could shatter into more pieces or change orbit and be on a collision course with something else.

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