4 ms·

The debris would be harmful to other satellites in orbit. Since it introduces significant risk, they cannot just shoot them down without a good reason.

gldalmaso 15y ago
Precisely, here's a more in depth rationale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_Syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_Syndrome Nations have become increasingly conscientious about this problem after a couple of incidents: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris#Debris_from_and_as_a_weapon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris#Debris_from_and_as...
hahhichood 15y ago
I would imagine they are working on, or already have, methods for disabling satellites without blowing them up and nudging them out of a stable orbit. Must be a way to ruin the solar panels with a laser or similar. I assume non-state actors won't be able to launch satellites that use a nuclear energy source?
- smhinsey 15y ago
  The X-37 (or whatever it ends up being called in the future) likely could snatch them right out of orbit without harming anything. I have no idea if it would be worth the expense, but that sort of capability is almost certainly a goal of the design. I have no doubt that at least the USAF and maybe their foreign counterparts are very invested in just this problem.
- derrida 15y ago
  Just launch a giant magnet at close range past it and head for the atmosphere. No debris, just burn-up.
- tomjen3 15y ago
  A group that can launch a satellite in orbit is also capable of launching a nuclear weapon in orbit. (That is the reason the US was so freak by Sputnik). So presumably the US is smart enough not to mess with such groups (even if they don't actually have nuclear weapons they would still be able to do great damage with conventional explosions or even a piece of rock).
  - JabavuAdams 15y ago
    This makes no sense. If I declare that tomorrow I'm going to launch a satellite, without going through official channels, I go to jail. If I don't announce it beforehand and just launch, then I'd better hope I don't start a nuclear war.
a_a_r_o_n 15y ago
Would the satellites themselves be harmful to other satellites?
JabavuAdams 15y ago
But, they don't have to allow them to be launched in the first place. Unless this goes through official channels, it becomes a ballistic missile proliferation issue, which the powers that be are somewhat twitchy about.

gldalmaso 15y ago

Precisely, here's a more in depth rationale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_Syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_Syndrome Nations have become increasingly conscientious about this problem after a couple of incidents: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris#Debris_from_and_as_a_weapon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris#Debris_from_and_as...

hahhichood 15y ago

I would imagine they are working on, or already have, methods for disabling satellites without blowing them up and nudging them out of a stable orbit. Must be a way to ruin the solar panels with a laser or similar. I assume non-state actors won't be able to launch satellites that use a nuclear energy source?

smhinsey 15y ago
The X-37 (or whatever it ends up being called in the future) likely could snatch them right out of orbit without harming anything. I have no idea if it would be worth the expense, but that sort of capability is almost certainly a goal of the design. I have no doubt that at least the USAF and maybe their foreign counterparts are very invested in just this problem.
derrida 15y ago
Just launch a giant magnet at close range past it and head for the atmosphere. No debris, just burn-up.
tomjen3 15y ago
A group that can launch a satellite in orbit is also capable of launching a nuclear weapon in orbit. (That is the reason the US was so freak by Sputnik). So presumably the US is smart enough not to mess with such groups (even if they don't actually have nuclear weapons they would still be able to do great damage with conventional explosions or even a piece of rock).
- JabavuAdams 15y ago
  This makes no sense. If I declare that tomorrow I'm going to launch a satellite, without going through official channels, I go to jail. If I don't announce it beforehand and just launch, then I'd better hope I don't start a nuclear war.

a_a_r_o_n 15y ago

Would the satellites themselves be harmful to other satellites?

JabavuAdams 15y ago

But, they don't have to allow them to be launched in the first place. Unless this goes through official channels, it becomes a ballistic missile proliferation issue, which the powers that be are somewhat twitchy about.