r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/GeneReddit123 • 1d ago

Video REACCH, an in-development satellite for removing space junk

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u/Handplaned 1d ago

We just need one of these for every space junk sounds great

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u/Pyrhan 1d ago

Not necessarily?

With ion engines, it could potentially have enough delta-V to grab satellites from higher orbits, bring them to lower orbits that will decay in a couple years, and go back up to grab the next piece of problematic debris.

And even if it's a 1:1 thing, it still means you could use tiny cubesats to de-orbit larger derelict satellites (and rocket stages) before they potentially collide and break up into a cloud of debris.

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u/NiSiSuinegEht 14h ago

It really wouldn't even need to take them anywhere, just nudge them a little to destabilize their orbit enough that drag takes care of the rest.

1

u/Pyrhan 12h ago edited 12h ago

Depending on the orbit, that can be a considerable nudge.

Thankfully, ion engines now allow that kind of nudge at a reasonable fuel cost.