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nemom t1_jczyqqq wrote

Reply to comment by DukeOfGeek in Student built satellite launched by SpaceX and powered by 48 AA batteries and a $20 microprocessor shows a low-cost way to reduce space junk by DukeOfGeek

I did read the article. It will orbit the planet for five years. The batteries will run out long before that, so it will be space junk most of its life. Yes, they are showing how increasing drag can shorten the time something is space junk, but it is still going to be space junk.

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Stupid-Idiot-Balls t1_jd3ax9x wrote

Short lived space junk is not the problem and is never what astronomer/engineers talk about when they say space junk is a problem.

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nemom t1_jd3d1ky wrote

Ah, yes... How many times have I heard an astronomer say, "Damn it! A satellite passed in front of my sensor. Oh, wait... The catalog says it's gonna burn up in three years, not seventeen, so it's OK."?

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