3 ms·

I keep reading about things like the Kessler Effect (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome) -- in fact,

I keep reading about things like the Kessler Effect (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome) -- in fact, even here on HN. Wouldn't launching numerous micro-satellites into orbit significantly speed up the accumulation of space debris that will eventually be hazardous?

vpribish 11y ago
These are meant for very low orbit where they re-enter within weeks. The biggest orbital debris problem is explosions leaving many thousands of struts spreading out over their own special orbits. I wonder which is better from a debris standpoint : the current mega-satellites or a swarm of micro-satellites (with much lower explosive potential, each). There could be a counter-intuitive result where smaller, simpler, less-energetic satellites could mitigate the orbital debris problem.
- cgriswald 11y ago
  Individually, micro-sats will have much less momentum at the same speed. In the event of a collision, not all the mass of the micro-sats will necessarily impact the other object, either. By way of analogy, you would probably rather be shot with buckshot than a cannonball if you wanted an open casket.
cgriswald 11y ago
It might be simpler to think of these "numerous micro-satellites" as a single, larger satellite. They'll share the same orbit and speed. But they will, in my opinion, be less likely to cause a cascade. Any object they impact will likely be left intact and have less energy transfered to it than if the micro-sats were a single solitary object with the same mass. To answer your question: no. As the sibling poster and the article mentions, these micro-sats will only be in orbit for a few weeks. So there is no accumulation. The solution to space debris right now is avoidance for existing sats and decaying orbits for future satellites such as these.
Rebelgecko 11y ago
For some context, there are already tens of thousands of pieces 5cm and up of debris, so a few hundred cubesats a year won't (immediately) make a huge difference. Cubesats are supposed to be able to put themselves into orbits that won't last more than 25 years, although not everyone has followed the guidelines. But, there are a lot of cool solutions out there for deorbiting Cubesats, even for ones without propulsion. There's a few ways you can increase drag when your mission is over, like having wings that'll create more drag when oriented a certain way, or sending out a big balloon. A more sci-fi sounding method is to use an electromagnetic tether

vpribish 11y ago

These are meant for very low orbit where they re-enter within weeks. The biggest orbital debris problem is explosions leaving many thousands of struts spreading out over their own special orbits. I wonder which is better from a debris standpoint : the current mega-satellites or a swarm of micro-satellites (with much lower explosive potential, each). There could be a counter-intuitive result where smaller, simpler, less-energetic satellites could mitigate the orbital debris problem.

cgriswald 11y ago
Individually, micro-sats will have much less momentum at the same speed. In the event of a collision, not all the mass of the micro-sats will necessarily impact the other object, either. By way of analogy, you would probably rather be shot with buckshot than a cannonball if you wanted an open casket.

cgriswald 11y ago

It might be simpler to think of these "numerous micro-satellites" as a single, larger satellite. They'll share the same orbit and speed. But they will, in my opinion, be less likely to cause a cascade. Any object they impact will likely be left intact and have less energy transfered to it than if the micro-sats were a single solitary object with the same mass. To answer your question: no. As the sibling poster and the article mentions, these micro-sats will only be in orbit for a few weeks. So there is no accumulation. The solution to space debris right now is avoidance for existing sats and decaying orbits for future satellites such as these.

Rebelgecko 11y ago

For some context, there are already tens of thousands of pieces 5cm and up of debris, so a few hundred cubesats a year won't (immediately) make a huge difference. Cubesats are supposed to be able to put themselves into orbits that won't last more than 25 years, although not everyone has followed the guidelines. But, there are a lot of cool solutions out there for deorbiting Cubesats, even for ones without propulsion. There's a few ways you can increase drag when your mission is over, like having wings that'll create more drag when oriented a certain way, or sending out a big balloon. A more sci-fi sounding method is to use an electromagnetic tether