Eatmeingreek
Gentard
join:2001-06-29
San Francisco, CA
| Re: Interesting...but do we have the space? There are only two zones in Earth orbit where space junk is a concern. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) which is at about 100 miles up, and Geosynchronous
orbit.
Lingus is right in that there is a whole lot of room up there, even in Earth orbit. Also, the vast majority of space junk would burn up in the atmosphere if it were ever to re-enter, so it doesn't really pose a hazard (there are exceptions) to humans on the ground.
The problem is that LEO and Geosynchronous are getting kind crowded after 50-odd years of space launches. A collision in Geosynchronous means an expensive satellite bites the dust. A collision in LEO can mean dead astronauts.
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Honey, the fairies are going to drive me to drink - My brother. |
