Trouble in orbit: the growing problem of space junk

[dharma1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33782943

[CapitalistCartr]

For those of you interested in this subject, I subscribe to this quarterly newsletter and find it worthwhile:

http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/newsletter.html

[acd]

Is it not possible to just make satellite behave like comets so they burn up in the atmosphere? Say that you add a rocket thruster that thrust the satellite in a downwards path so it burns up?

[emgeee → acd]

Only larger satellites have active propulsion that would be capable of doing this.

[JshWright → acd]

Propulsion systems are heavy, and would add significant cost to satellites.

Incidentally, if you want to get out of orbit, you don't thrust 'down', you thrust 'backwards'.

[debacle]

All of these problems can be solved with money. If a growing problem can be solved with money, it just hasn't grown enough yet.

[carapace]

If you could figure out a way to collect it then you've got resources that have already been accelerated to orbit...

[dharma1]

lasers! http://www.space.com/29271-space-station-laser-cannon-orbita...