Fishing debris in space

[Chip Fetrow]

Most debris is NOT de-orbited.  LEO stiff de-orbits itself.  MOST  
geosynchronous stuff is actually sent UP.  Old satellites that were  
once in geosynchronous or even higher orbits is sent into higher  
orbits, allowed to crush itself into other other orbiting stuff, and  
causing even more orbiting stuff.  It is the wild west up there.

--chip

On Feb 6, 2011, at 9:20 AM, tacos-request at amrad.org wrote:

> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:25:32 -0500
> From: Richard O'Neill <richardoneill at earthlink.net>
> To: tacos at amrad.org
>
> Retrograde orbits are often employed by Earth observing polar orbiting
> satellites. NASA now requires de-orbiting capability on satellites.
> We'll eventually have to clean up the other stuff, live with it or  
> wait
> 'till atmospheric drag burns it to a crisp or lays a egg on someone.
> As Clint would say, "Do you feel lucky"?
>
> Richard