Quote:
Originally Posted by glatt
Sounds like so much space junk. More stuff to avoid.
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ISS really is not in space. To maintain orbit, it must repeatedly boost itself up. Therefore FitSat launched in a similar orbit was gone by the next year - sucked down to earth by drag created by the atmosphere.
CubSats launched in LEO orbits would also fall and burn up months later. NROL-39 launch vehicle somehow would release CubSats in a lower orbit. Then continue on to deploy the military bird.
CubSats should not remain as orbital garbage. But large numbers of booster rockets (even from 10 and 20 years ago) still remain in orbit.
A recent international treaty now requires satellites to destructively return to earth at end of life. This treaty was inspired by a Chinese test that destroyed their own satellite intentionally creating a large orbiting debris field.