A satellite explodes in outer space, far from any other body, sending thousands of pieces in all directions. Is the linear momentum of the satellite before the explosion less than, equal to, or greater than the total linear momentum of all the pieces after the explosion?

The answer to this problem can be given through energy conservation as well as Newton's first law.

Newton's first law states that as long as there is no force exerted on a body, its movement will be constant or at rest. In this way the amount of linear movement of the satellite before the explosion will be equal to the sum of the movement generated in the pieces after the explosion. In the absence of external forces but the preservation of the internal force as the only one to act, these will not change the total momentum of the system.