19 ms·

I think it is an interesting idea, but I fear that unless we find a way to bring down the broken, disabled, etc. satellites we have, this will lead to accelerat

• modeless 5y ago
  There is a simple and comprehensive solution to this problem which SpaceX has already implemented for Starlink. Simply put all of the satellites under 600 km altitude. Anything at that altitude will fall out of orbit in a few years due to atmospheric drag, unless it continuously boosts itself up. And before you ask: no, collision debris is not ejected into orbits that decay significantly slower than the original orbits, just due to how orbital mechanics work.
  • KiwiJohnno 5y ago
    >collision debris is not ejected into orbits that decay significantly slower than the original orbits, just due to how orbital mechanics work. True, but debris can (and has been) thrown into orbits with an apoapsis (high point) much higher than the original collision. Yes, the periapsis is still at the original altitude of the collision but the debris may collide with other satellites or debris creating secondary debris clouds at a much higher altitude than the original collision, and so on.
    • morei 5y ago
      This point is that the periapsis is still subject to strong atmospheric drag. And while secondary debris clouds at might higher altitude is theoretically possible, it's vanishingly unlikely due to the vastly lower density.