3 ms·
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 spreadin
by 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 agoIndividually, 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.