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

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[–]Smarterthanlastweek2 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

This is very cool! It sounds like they're boosting the junk to a higher orbit though which I don't see the point off. Why net de-orbit it?

many other countries have launched or are currently developing technologies to clear space junk.

Didn't know this either. Will definitely be looking into it!

[–]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?