I don't believe this is completely accurate. Controlled deorbiting of orbital stages (upper stages) is a subject of ongoing FAA rulemaking [0], but it is not cu

I don't believe this is completely accurate. Controlled deorbiting of orbital stages (upper stages) is a subject of ongoing FAA rulemaking [0], but it is not currently required AFAICT, and as best as I can find it is *not* done in the majority of non-SpaceX launches [1]. [0] https://spacenews.com/new-upper-stage-disposal-rules-help-not-harm-us-leadership-space/ https://spacenews.com/new-upper-stage-disposal-rules-help-no... [1] https://outerspaceinstitute.ca/osisite/wp-content/uploads/OSI_response_to_FAA_NPRM.pdf https://outerspaceinstitute.ca/osisite/wp-content/uploads/OS... ("Uncontrolled reentries are currently used for 35% of U.S. missions (62% if we exclude SpaceX)") (As a tangential curiosity, Ariane 5 (and perhaps some other LH2/LOX upper stages) lacks any capability [2] to do this, even if they wanted to: because those engines are designed in a way that can only be ignited once. To do a controlled re-entry into the atmosphere, it's a prerequisite that you have a rocket that can be turned on and off at least twice). [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576520302241 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00945...