http://quichemoraine.com/2009/10/cleaning-up-the-orbital-neighborhood/ We don't need no stinking subtitle Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:57:10 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://quichemoraine.com/2009/10/cleaning-up-the-orbital-neighborhood/#comment-7432 Norm Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:17:16 +0000 http://quichemoraine.com/?p=1826#comment-7432 While there have been many strategies suggested to clean up space debris that can be implemented with current technology, save for the graveyard orbit idea which is already being practiced at this time they would all require a lot of money to set up and operate. I imagine that one day we will send something up to the designated graveyard orbits to clean them up, as it would take thousands of years for most of the objects in those orbits to come down on their own, but as long as nations and companies follow a few basic best practices that do not make the problem worse, we can hold off on actual clean up efforts until the costs are more manageable. While there have been many strategies suggested to clean up space debris that can be implemented with current technology, save for the graveyard orbit idea which is already being practiced at this time they would all require a lot of money to set up and operate. I imagine that one day we will send something up to the designated graveyard orbits to clean them up, as it would take thousands of years for most of the objects in those orbits to come down on their own, but as long as nations and companies follow a few basic best practices that do not make the problem worse, we can hold off on actual clean up efforts until the costs are more manageable.

]]> http://quichemoraine.com/2009/10/cleaning-up-the-orbital-neighborhood/#comment-7260 Greg Laden Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:09:24 +0000 http://quichemoraine.com/?p=1826#comment-7260 Maybe we're saving it for later. Maybe we’re saving it for later.

]]> http://quichemoraine.com/2009/10/cleaning-up-the-orbital-neighborhood/#comment-7254 Gwenny Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:31:56 +0000 http://quichemoraine.com/?p=1826#comment-7254 Just curious. What is keeping us from cleaning it up? Maybe some solar powered bots that either gather it up or just nudge it into the atmosphere? What about a satellite that was a port of call and recharging station for an army of bots that did this? Just curious. What is keeping us from cleaning it up? Maybe some solar powered bots that either gather it up or just nudge it into the atmosphere? What about a satellite that was a port of call and recharging station for an army of bots that did this?

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