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I'm not really getting what makes this a world first? Controlled deorbits have been a thing for a while, and if we're talking about deorbits designed to minimi
by dotnet00 3y ago
I'm not really getting what makes this a world first?
Controlled deorbits have been a thing for a while, and if we're talking about deorbits designed to minimize risk of debris impact, IIRC Starlink satellites were designed to maximize the amount of the satellite that is vaporized by reentry.
Edit: Ah, the "world's first" is that they were able to choose where any parts that aren't vaporized would crash. The esa article is clearer on that.
I guess if I were to be unnecessarily pedantic, most crewed capsules and reusable ISS resupply vehicles have also technically done that.
- patrickwalton 3y agoI think the other "first" was that the system wasn't designed for controlled re-entry. They just used re-purposed the orbit maintenance propulsion system.
- rzimmerman 3y agoI’m fairly confident this is not a first. It’s just good behavior if you have a defunct but controlable satellite in low earth orbit. A best-effort burn to deplete fuel and aim for an ocean is an obvious choice. While it’s interesting, it is not novel and I think the reporter over-sensationalized here.