What Happens to Old Satellites When They Die?

Have you ever wondered what happens to an old satellite after its useful life is over? They typically don't just stay up in space forever and ever, at least not in there current orbit. Checkout the three possible ways that old satellites and other space craft are disposed of!

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Animations courtesy of Vincent de Langen

[TECHN]

Here's a billion dollar idea: space recycling companies

[chalk]

Solid super villain plan: convince NASA, ESA, Russia, China, etc., to co-fund your venture to put a solar powered laser satellite in orbit, so it has a renewable fuel source for economically disintegrating space debris. Than BOOM! Space laser! KNEEL BEFORE ME!
...while still cleaning up space debris, because supervillains do have *standards*.

[MrTada]

6:29 You probably ment to say something else. 300km is lower then even the ISS.

[Gaming_Network]

They go to satellite heaven and frolic in the satellite fields

[zawwin]

“If you can’t beat your antagonist, just send him to space”
~ Joseph Joestar

[cptbaloo]

The graveyard orbit isn´t a real solution if you want to leave the the Orbit for Exploring, Traveleing an so on. We are building a cage.

[stevehall]

So, man has done the same thing to space that he has done to the land and the sea!

[MasterCoD]

Business idea: capture space junk and sell it in gift shops and museums as most expensive items

[profwaldone]

StarLink has onboard thrusters and actually will use re-entry when decommissioned. but the point still stands. we need a big ffing jellyfish in orbit. like a net that intercepts and captures space debris.

[chrisw]

dude, speed in miles, length in centimeters. Please stick to metric and don't change willy nilly

[jakenorthand]

US Government: we need a safe place to deorbit a satellite
Some tech: how about Oklahoma. Are there even people there?

[ethanchapman]

6:32 300 kilometers? I assume that's incorrect?


Or does that mean 300 km higher than the original orbit?

[avrdr]

Update: @ 7:03 SpaceX's upcoming starship will be planned to collect space junk in the future

[stereoroid]

6:25: 300 km altitude? I think you missed a few zeros ofF the end there!

[deathempire]

Ah you use Centimeters. You are a good man.

[XBuilderBob]

I really like the one up one down idea until we advance far enough to be able to efficiently remove items from orbit

[RealCadde]

"No one has been killed or seriously injured is OBVIOUSLY due to luck"
No it isn't luck at all.
The chances of you being struck by satellite debris are MUCH less than being struck by lightning. Or for that matter being involved in a plane crash.
Do you tell people how lucky they are they haven't been hit by lightning yet? Or suffered a plane crash?

Being hit by falling space debris is actually EXCEPTIONALLY bad luck.

[Jr_Scientist]

The Short Answer: Two things can happen to old satellites: For the closer satellites, engineers will use its last bit of fuel to slow it down so it will fall out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere. Further satellites are instead sent even farther away from Earth.

[anthonyalecca]

*SpaceX:* hold our beer. We’re going to reuse our equipment.

[bagel]

We have been learning about this kind of stuff in my GPS class. Thanks for this video