timberwolf0122 t1_jd0wxce wrote
Reply to comment by WholemealBred 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
The cube is a proof of concept, we now know that a drag sail is highly effective as well as light and cheap, reducing junks life 6 fold and that’s huge.
WholemealBred t1_jd9tjpc wrote
But that’s not happened yet. It’s just more junk at this stage.
timberwolf0122 t1_jda2tee wrote
Not if they are continuing to monitor it, which I imagine they will to see how long the deorbit takes, it’ll become junk once it begins to burn up
WholemealBred t1_jda3vlp wrote
Just because it will head towards reentry with 5 years instead of 25 years doesn’t mean it’s not space junk. it’s still space junk….
timberwolf0122 t1_jda49ab wrote
Right…. And they will likely monitor its trajectory over the next 5 years to see how the cube and tiny drag chute behave, this would make it an active experiment.
If something happens and that cube starts gaining altitude because of an unforeseen interaction, we’ll that’s something you want to know about before you put it on something big and have it go sailing off somewhere
WholemealBred t1_jda58eg wrote
You realise it’s based of projections and not monitored for 5 years? RemindMe! 5 years
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