80% of space junk burns up when it reaches the atmosphere, but that still leaves plenty of fragments big enough to be lethal
a tonne or two of defunct satellites, rocket parts and other man-made orbiting junk hurtles into the atmosphere. Four-fifths of it burns up to become harmless dust, but that still leaves a fair number of fragments large enough to be lethal.
A cheaper alternative is a “semi-controlled” re-entry. Instead of diving towards a pre-arranged target, a satellite is lowered gradually into the atmosphere using either what thruster-fuel remains to it or a specially designed drag-sail.
Hyperschall Technologie Göttingen , a German firm, charges about €50,000 for such an analysis. Its clients include three European satellite manufacturers—System of Germany, Elecnor of Spain and Airbus—as well as several space agencies.
Another way to reduce what reaches the ground is to substitute refractory materials such as titanium and steel, used to make things like fuel tanks and fly wheels, with substances such as aluminium and graphite epoxy that vaporise more easily. According to Lilith Grassi, a debris expert at Thales Alenia, this approach is bearing fruit.
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