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In contrast to large orbital debris, the impact of small one on space activities and ecology of the Earth and near-Earth space is often underestimated. As shown in this paper, it is unfair. According to the data from different sources, the amount, mass, and dynamics of the small orbital debris population in LEO, its danger to space activity are estimated as well as the consequences of multi-satellite communication space systems deployment being planned now. The latter makes the study of this area particularly relevant. Various aspects of the consequences of technogenic contamination of near-Earth space are considered, as well as the danger of small space debris to space activities and the ecology of the Earth and near-Earth space in comparison to the danger of large debris. The significant lack of complete and reliable information on small space debris due to the shortage of sensors that can observe it is marked.

Abstract. The increasing near-Earth space (NES) exploration with its technogeneous contamination, and the resulting growth of space objects breakups risk for space flights makes more urgent the problem of estimating this danger, an adequate and accurate estimate being very important. In practice, given the complexity of obtaining the accurate estimates of this characteristic because of the large uncertainty in the initial data, it is a common practice simplifying the calculations, neglecting a set of factors, included some essential ones. In this work, some challenging aspects in evaluating and using the estimates of potential danger of space objects breakups and possible ways of improving these estimates are discussed.

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