Chinese 'space cleaner' spotted grabbing and throwing away old satellite

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[–]BravoVictor 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

sounds like they're boosting the junk to a higher orbit

Yeah, you're right. I had to research it. I think this illustrates why.

These are satellites in high geostationary orbit. If they push them towards Earth, where even more satellites orbit, that increases the risk of them hitting something. So they're nudged slightly further away from Earth where there's less chance of a collision.

Does seem strange and short sighted though, since the "graveyard" orbit will eventually get too cluttered as well.

[–]Smarterthanlastweek2 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Does seem strange and short sighted though, since the "graveyard" orbit will eventually get too cluttered as well.

Exactly. I guess as long as you can turn it into someone else's problem years in the future, it's a success?