With hundreds of satellites launched each year and tens of thousands more planned, scientists are increasingly concerned about an emerging problem: emissions from the fuels burned in launches and from the pollutants released when satellites and rocket stages flame out on reentry.
Ah yeah that’s fair, I think it was this time last year that reports about the rocket exhaust plume were leaving particulates. So it’s a very recent finding, compared to de-orbiting re-entry. But as you say, it is its own issue that’s also come to light as well.
But how do we solve EOL de-orbiting, a satellite only has so much reaction mass and propellant, and if you need to reload it, is it better to launch a new one with better tech? Or to refill tanks? And then that has to be incorporated in the design. Yadda yadda.
Ah yeah that’s fair, I think it was this time last year that reports about the rocket exhaust plume were leaving particulates. So it’s a very recent finding, compared to de-orbiting re-entry. But as you say, it is its own issue that’s also come to light as well.
But how do we solve EOL de-orbiting, a satellite only has so much reaction mass and propellant, and if you need to reload it, is it better to launch a new one with better tech? Or to refill tanks? And then that has to be incorporated in the design. Yadda yadda.