Maybe this should be in Nostupidquestions as I’m aware the moon exists. And I guess there may be an orbit zone where things tend to remain in orbit. But curious…

The full context question is: For man-made satellites, would they benefit by having a “Self destruct” button?

Sure it may add more debris but since an explosion would scatter debris in all directions, anything flung up or down would cause it to get out of this geostationary zone/band… And hopefully come crashing down to Earth, reducing overall debris? Compared to an abandoned satellite, remaining in orbit and breaking down due to relatively low energy collisions with surrounding debris.

Basically I’m trying to justify self destruct buttons. Thank you!

  • talEnglish
    5·
    5 天前

    And ideal “self-destruct button” would actually be a thruster firing in the direction of travel, which would slow it down and drag it into the earth, or if facing the other way, boost it up to a “graveyard” orbit. Both these exist on many satellites already.

    Also, even if they don’t, it’d be possible to send another spacecraft up that has enough fuel to deorbit the satellite.

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      3·
      5 天前

      Theoretically, anyway. It’s still experimental to do so, and the fact stuff is quite often spinning makes it harder.

      IIRC using laser ablation is also a legit technique in consideration to give old space junk a push.