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Whoever pays for the cleaning benefits anyone putting things into orbit, and bears the cost (without the profit) of that orbits previous space usage. Cleaning
by worthless-trash 1y ago
Whoever pays for the cleaning benefits anyone putting things into orbit, and bears the cost (without the profit) of that orbits previous space usage.
Cleaning up someone elses space trash has the same problem that cleaning up someone elses earth trash, the lesson is never learned and it creates a habit of not being responsible for your own garbage.
- dotancohen 1y agoThis is why orbits should be regulated like RF space is regulated. But it should probably require insurance, as the ability to put something into orbit does not imply the financial or technical ability to clean up the orbit. (Actually nobody has this capability today) Ruined orbits should be made available essentially for free, and cleaning up that orbit would provide the entity that bought it with a very valuable resource they could then sell. Of course, this plan requires cooperation between all nations and entities who have the ability to launch objects into orbit. We have precedent in RF, the sea, and in airspace regulation. To an extent.
- ratg13 1y agoThe article is about LEO satellites, not geo-stationary ones. LEO satellites like starlink will lose their orbit after a few weeks of not maintaining it.
- dotancohen 1y agoDepends on altitude. Higher LEO could take years to clear, especially for higher-apogee debris that spends much time in an even thinner environment.