/sci/ - Science & Math

>>12691795
it already is thanks to failed india

>>12691795

What are the odds of satellite debris hitting a passenger jet at cruising altitude?

Dear Christ, I'm imagining how a single plane being taken down would be a Challenger-tier blow to manned spaceflight, perhaps even worse because all spacefaring nations would suddenly have to shelve their exploration plans and replace them with emergency debris management programs that would last decades.

>>12691795
>What would happen if the low orbit debris started orbiting Earth?
What orbital debris outside of Earth's? The debris already in Earth's orbit once it goes into orbit?

>>12691831
You would have an easier time being struck by a meteor while skydiving than for that to ever happen.
If the satalite deorbiting was of high mass there could be a debris cone of stuff that survived reentry, but the chances of an aircraft flying into that debris cone are slim, Think of how hard it would be to strike a 45 meter target from 2000 kilometers up, on a balistic arch, completely uncontrolled, not to mention if a high mass satellite were to deorbit it would be of high concern. When MIR deorbited there were concerns of debris striking aircraft or ships, but to my knowledge nothing survived reentry.