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The thing is that satellites are planned with a lifespan which can include a fixed amount of fuel for adjustments like this. It's not too hard to attach a dolla

The thing is that satellites are planned with a lifespan which can include a fixed amount of fuel for adjustments like this. It's not too hard to attach a dollar amount here. I'm as big a fan of SpaceX as you'll find but considering they were the one entering an orbit they didn't previously occupy it seems like a pretty lame move on SpaceX's part.

londons_explore 7y ago
I bet their actions would have been different if they'd known this article would be published. It puts them in a bad light, and that could impact their ability to get necessary licenses to operate.
grecy 7y ago
I suppose that's going to be a question in the coming years - does someone get the right of way to a given orbit just because they were there first? Sounds like a fantastic barrier to entry for newcomers who don't have billions lining their pockets.
- phkahler 7y ago
  That is true of all finite resources, from orbits to spectrum to real estate.
  - tomjakubowski 7y ago
    Maybe the United Nations (or future world government) could levy an Earth-orbital value tax to ensure orbits are used efficiently.
    - mises 7y ago
      This implies that un has jurisdiction over all orbits, which it can't really enforce. Also, good luck getting any kind of int'l tax passed; no one wants to give up that kind of sovereignty. Were I a company, I'd just wait until office changed and whatever treaty this was got torn up to put up my satellites. How could the un enforce this? At the end of the day, policies are enforced with the threat of force in response to non-compliance; fact is, un has precious little of that. The only viable enforcement mechanism would be enforcement by other nations; again, sovereignty issue. Also, what if a nation decides she does not agree to such an agreement?
manicdee 7y ago
Everyone intentionally placing their satellites in VLEO is going to be spending more fuel simply staying in orbit against atmospheric drag than they they will spend on avoidance manoeuvres. This ESA satellite is in VLEO by design, which means every piece of space junk is going to present a threat to it. Once ESA has secured funding for their navigation automation project (funding to be decided in November), we should hear nothing more about potential collisions with the endless rain of space junk from megaconstellations.

londons_explore 7y ago

I bet their actions would have been different if they'd known this article would be published. It puts them in a bad light, and that could impact their ability to get necessary licenses to operate.

grecy 7y ago

I suppose that's going to be a question in the coming years - does someone get the right of way to a given orbit just because they were there first? Sounds like a fantastic barrier to entry for newcomers who don't have billions lining their pockets.

phkahler 7y ago
That is true of all finite resources, from orbits to spectrum to real estate.
- tomjakubowski 7y ago
  Maybe the United Nations (or future world government) could levy an Earth-orbital value tax to ensure orbits are used efficiently.
  - mises 7y ago
    This implies that un has jurisdiction over all orbits, which it can't really enforce. Also, good luck getting any kind of int'l tax passed; no one wants to give up that kind of sovereignty. Were I a company, I'd just wait until office changed and whatever treaty this was got torn up to put up my satellites. How could the un enforce this? At the end of the day, policies are enforced with the threat of force in response to non-compliance; fact is, un has precious little of that. The only viable enforcement mechanism would be enforcement by other nations; again, sovereignty issue. Also, what if a nation decides she does not agree to such an agreement?

manicdee 7y ago

Everyone intentionally placing their satellites in VLEO is going to be spending more fuel simply staying in orbit against atmospheric drag than they they will spend on avoidance manoeuvres. This ESA satellite is in VLEO by design, which means every piece of space junk is going to present a threat to it. Once ESA has secured funding for their navigation automation project (funding to be decided in November), we should hear nothing more about potential collisions with the endless rain of space junk from megaconstellations.