Space Trash... Satellite's doomed to fall, all releasing secrets and/or dangerous chemicals upon earth.?

Question

Our Government has alot to worry about when a down satellite comes home next month, it holds dangerous chemicals and spy info, so they plan to blow it up in space. But what will happen when these dangerous chemicals are released in outer space?

Does our government not think of the effects it may causes in space? Do they think it will have no consequences on earth's furture? I wonder if they know or even think that far ahead.

It reminds me of all the "Space Trash," humans dump in space. It makes me wonder if Governments and Nasa, even think about the long term effects of what is sent into space and left behind.

Don't get me wrong...Nasa and other space missions has blessed me and you with knowledge once never imagined, but will we one day reep that knowledge?

Answer 1

Sooner or later some important space mission will be hit by space junk and be destroyed. Well, it could be a long time later if we are not talking about that narrow band in which geostationary satellites are deployed.

Other areas,even areas aroung the earth are not immune, but it is  far less likely than colliding with a ship in mid ocean.

Remember that it is much more likely  that 2 ships will collide in New York Harbour than out in mid ocean. It is just a matter of low traffic.

It is obvious that we should have a design that allows for safe reentry, but the people charged with getting things into orbit are not being charged with that objective.

Answer 2

Hi - yes i read about this earlier today. You make some good points and no,  governments probably don't think ahead. After all, the politicans who made the decisions will be long gone when the chickens come home to roost!!

Answer 3

I laughed when I heard this on the news - you just know that something is going to go wrong! If the satellite doesn't crash down on Ireland killing thousands and contaminating the land (and the survivors) then it will explode in space releasing harmful chemicals into the already struggling atmosphere or the final option is that it crash lands in the ocean and kills all the creatures there (or create some kind of mutant whale/shark/satellite thing).

Good luck to the government but I'll be staying indoors that day!