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But there is a lot more space in geostationary orbits and lot less stuff so the risk of chain of collisions is lower
by yread 6y ago
But there is a lot more space in geostationary orbits and lot less stuff so the risk of chain of collisions is lower
- duskwuff 6y agoThere is far less space in geostationary orbit, because the locus of GEO is a one-dimensional ring above the equator.
- fogof 6y agoIt's true that there is less GEO real estate in this sense. But to kick off Kessler syndrome, you need two objects in different orbital planes so that they collide at very high speed. It wouldn't be possible for two defunct GEO satellites to collide, because two nearby GEO satellites are moving in the same direction at the same speed.
- yread 6y agobut aren't the satellites in GEO stationary relative to one another? And if by chance they all get destroyed in collision the debris would mostly also stay in that ring so we could still launch rockets and have satellites in other orbits that don't cross it.