Remember the Kessler space-junk syndrome in low-earth orbit, which Gravity made famous? Suppose we cured it. Purdue University are warning that we might not want to cure it all at once.
Purdue done run some maths that satellites as just burn up in the atmosphere (bro) do not annihilate. Burnination is a chemical reaction, like what was said about mercury, or the carbon from kerosene. Same holds true for the spacecraft itself. Titanium, aluminium, stainless-steel... none of which you want in your tuna fish sandwich.
On the one hand this is mainly a political problem. It is unwelcome for Elon Musk especially. NASA can launch its inefficient rockets because, being inefficient, the SLS won't go up much. Other countries can do whatever they want (especially should the US lose its next world war). This is the most problemative for the most productive. Perfect for government work.
On the other hand, at least reusable boosters are exempt. The point of that stainless steel monster is that it doesn't burn up; Elon gets it back or, should NASA order him otherwise, it falls mostly-whole onto a dolphin somewhere around northern Cuba, then sinks and becomes an artificial reef there.
So, maybe the plan should be to put less stuff in LEO and more in-between Van Allens. Which Starship should be able to do.
BACKDATE 10/18. UPDATE 1/19/24: Suppose the rocket were made of fuel? It doesn't launch from Earth but it doesn't have to.
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