Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by kobeya 3263 days ago
> Out of service satellites are still most likely to be able to execute a controlled re-entry

How? By a burn? That's a lot of fuel reserve to use up.
2 comments
Retric 3262 days ago
It takes minimal energy to deorbit from LEO. By changing the shape of the orbit you spend some time in denser atmosphere which increases drag which quickly deorbits you. Controlled just means they start the processes at a specific time.
link
InclinedPlane 3262 days ago
How much reserve fuel does an out of service satellite need to use after it burns up in Earth's atmosphere?

How much fuel do you imagine it takes a satellite to re-enter if it will happen automatically in a matter of a few years?

The answer to both is, of course, not much, not much at all.

link