What is the potential impact of the collision between a defunct Soviet satellite and a Chinese rocket booster on space debris?

The collision could increase the existing 500,000 pieces of space debris orbiting Earth by up to 20%. This is particularly concerning because even small pieces of debris can pose a significant threat to operational satellites that support global communications and other critical functions. These fragments travel at extraordinary speeds, some reaching 17,500 miles per hour, making them capable of destroying entire satellites upon impact despite their small size. The anticipated collision between these two space objects represents a serious escalation of an already dangerous situation in Earth's orbit.