Space junk

Possible? Yes.

Practical? Depends on who you're talking to.

The extra fuel means the rocket will need to be more powerful to lift the extra weight. That could increase the cost of building them as to make it prohibitive.

Planning the launch so that the booster falls into the ocean is a better idea (one that they're doing already I believe). Putting extra fuel in the satellite is probably not a problem.

Besides, sending them out into space beyond Earth orbit means they will go into orbit around the Sun. A hundred or thousand years later, they may intercept the Earth again and we'd still have the problem ('cept someone else will have to take care of it ).

I imagine that it would be better to build them of such mass and/or material that they will burn completely in the upper atmosphere when they reenter.

This does not address the problem of satellite collisions, however. Any ideas?

regards,

Vulcan

I think this is a great idea!.. very responsible and imaginitive thinking... Include the cost of 'recycling' in the initial cost.. wow that is deeeep...

you have done well grasshopper

Chris

Yup. The booster stages are by definition sub-orbital. If the first stage could reach escape velocity there wouldn't be any need for a second or third stage.

Thanks to all for good infos, much appreciated.

Or you could just coat it in a super thermite and when done turn it to vapor. Of course the flash would blind any telescope pointed in that direction and any object to close would get a metallic/silica coating. You would have to make the parts from this stuff to get it to work and no one would want a flash bulb for a satellite or ship part.

re "coat it in a super thermite and when done turn it to vapor"

Or coat it in a super termite and when done, wake them up!

Termites will devour it in no time!

Tony

If we shot this space junk into space then it is like littering!

We have messed up earth so now lets have a go and see if we can mess up the rest of the universe!

We are the ones that put the junk up there so we should be the ones that have to deal with it!

Welcome, Guest!

ones in a blue moon Guest say Thanks. very well!!!

In presence of previous excellent posts, I have only a tidbit to add:

While designing and constructing delivery systems, one essential is to determine that to the best of their ability the manufacturer had designed each part to either de-orbit, or remain attached to a substantial (trackable) chunk.

So when the explosive bolts blow, frequently either end is attached to a bit of retaining wire; when clamshells deploy there is a cable that keeps them attached to "something" depending on the exact situation.

And then for debris that will have to de-orbit, of course there is an entire scenario of mass calculations to determine whether it will burn up or if not, to determine a safe place to drop it (big sky/big ocean theory).

I feel I need to be honest & say that I did not bother reading much of the offerings on this thread (kind of busy this morning)- never the less I want to suggest that there be some international committee be formed to extract fees (insurance?) from countries/persons- whomever would venture to leave stuff in space orbit. Maybe a charge according to over all weight (remaining weight?) - this insurance $ can be used to fly 'spacewreckers' here & there to clean up those trashy upper regions... The truth is we should not allow anyone to continue to screw up our cosmological neighborhood! I bet there would be some good money in bringing down some of that high tech stuff- sort of like mining the ocean above for spacely treasures. Carlos "The choices you make might be mistakes but it's never too late to turn around." Johnny Lang-musician

One issue is some of that space junk is dangerous to deal with. Spy satellites are classified and possibly failsafed.

Possibly a ballistic blanket rap to contain parts before moving to keep the black ops junk from multiplying. Of course the respective governments will deny all knowledge but will tell you privately to leave it alone both legally and for safety.

Some will be shut down to be activated later. Getting the respective countries to admit ownership will be problematic.