4 ms·

Trouble in orbit: the growing problem of space junk

• debacle 11y ago
  All of these problems can be solved with money. If a growing problem can be solved with money, it just hasn't grown enough yet.
• acd 11y ago
  Is it not possible to just make satellite behave like comets so they burn up in the atmosphere? Say that you add a rocket thruster that thrust the satellite in a downwards path so it burns up?
  • emgeee 11y ago
    Only larger satellites have active propulsion that would be capable of doing this.
  • JshWright 11y ago
    Propulsion systems are heavy, and would add significant cost to satellites. Incidentally, if you want to get out of orbit, you don't thrust 'down', you thrust 'backwards'.
• CapitalistCartr 11y ago
  For those of you interested in this subject, I subscribe to this quarterly newsletter and find it worthwhile: http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/newsletter.html http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/newsletter.html
• carapace 11y ago
  If you could figure out a way to collect it then you've got resources that have already been accelerated to orbit...
• dharma1 11y ago
  lasers! http://www.space.com/29271-space-station-laser-cannon-orbital-debris.html http://www.space.com/29271-space-station-laser-cannon-orbita...