• CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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      2 months ago

      Depends what new orbit a given piece of junk is in. It could be mostly higher, only approaching the old one at it’s semiminor axis.

      It’s not as bad as blowing up a higher satellite, but most antisatellite weapons try to capture rather than destroy to avoid the question entirely.

      • CorporalCookie@lemmy.world
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        16 hours ago

        With the compressed gas actively keeping them in orbit they’re only expected to have a 5 year lifespan before they deorbit. Unpowered, they’d probably deorbit in about a year or so