01-15-2022, 09:25 AM
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Contest, Sport, it's all good......
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: West of Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 760
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^^^^^
Note: New & Improved Avatar! So long, RC X-1.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
Speaking of, in the Starlink deployment videos, a ladder-looking thing floats off followed by the satellite. I sure hope that thing is on a tether instead of being space junk at the rate of one per satellite...
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Well, two things. One, the initial Starlink orbits are to about 275 miles, then they use ion thrustes to go to their operational orbits at 340 miles, and "reboost" themselves until shortly before running out of fuel then deorbit themselves.
Anyway, the "ladder" would decay and re-enter in about 5-6 years, it seems.
Now, this is total speculation on my part, but the "ladder" may have its own ion engines and actively de-orbit itself. Because SpaceX has been pretty good about de-orbiting the 2nd stages whenever practical.
Of course I could google to see if there is any public info on whether the ladder de-orbits itself, or even ask on NASA Spaceflight Forum, but also so can anyone reading this.
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