5 ms·

Most orbital junk flies between 7-800km above Earth and the vast majority is lower than 2,000km. The orbital graveyard is 35,000km. Assuming you are right and

Most orbital junk flies between 7-800km above Earth and the vast majority is lower than 2,000km. The orbital graveyard is 35,000km. Assuming you are right and our biggest concern is regular space rocks, then why are these areas of especially high concern? If you saying that the distribution of space rocks should be constantly high like what we see in our rings of trash. But it's not. Earth practically has rings that we can detect. Where did all that material come from? Why is the density of space trash detectably higher the closer to earth you get? Before you say gravity, remember that these things are in stable orbit. Wandering space rocks have a very low chance of achieving that without intervention.

sandworm101 5y ago
Distribution may be homogenous but velocity is not. The natural rocks near earth are much faster and therefore more dangerous. They are falling towards earth, picking up velocity as they dip into our gravity well.
- shkkmo 5y ago
  Distribution of space debris is not homogeneous at all.
  - sandworm101 5y ago
    The natural background of rocks/dust should be evenly distributed, with exceptions for things like comet tails.
    - shkkmo 5y ago
      > should be evenly distributed This is definitely not true. I don't know why you would expect a 3+ body gravity system would result in an even distribution of natural debris.
      - sandworm101 5y ago
        It depends on scale. Certainly there are areas of our solar system with greater or lesser densities, but those differences are vast. There should be no appreciable difference in density across a few hundred kilometers.
        shkkmo 5y ago
        That is very different from your intial statement, doesn't backup your original point, and is only true if you include an additional list of exceptions (such as plantary rings and lagrange points). I simply don't see any facts to backup your thesis that natural debris are a greater risk than orbital debris to spacecraft in earth orbit (esp the lower orbits).

sandworm101 5y ago

Distribution may be homogenous but velocity is not. The natural rocks near earth are much faster and therefore more dangerous. They are falling towards earth, picking up velocity as they dip into our gravity well.

shkkmo 5y ago
Distribution of space debris is not homogeneous at all.
- sandworm101 5y ago
  The natural background of rocks/dust should be evenly distributed, with exceptions for things like comet tails.
  - shkkmo 5y ago
    > should be evenly distributed This is definitely not true. I don't know why you would expect a 3+ body gravity system would result in an even distribution of natural debris.
    - sandworm101 5y ago
      It depends on scale. Certainly there are areas of our solar system with greater or lesser densities, but those differences are vast. There should be no appreciable difference in density across a few hundred kilometers.
      - shkkmo 5y ago
        That is very different from your intial statement, doesn't backup your original point, and is only true if you include an additional list of exceptions (such as plantary rings and lagrange points). I simply don't see any facts to backup your thesis that natural debris are a greater risk than orbital debris to spacecraft in earth orbit (esp the lower orbits).