a question on space debris

Forum: SSI-List
Thread: a question on space debris

# 19686 byCombs, Mike on March 25, 2004, 8:11 a.m.
Member since 2022-08-22

Message The only debris which will return to Earth is that which, at some point in its orbit, at least slightly grazes the top-most parts of the atmosphere. Any debris not doing this (for example, all the junkclose to GEO) is up there for good (well, OK, up there for geological time-scales at least), which is part of the problem. NASA and the Russian space agencies seem to have gotten pretty good at predicting re-entry times, at least to within a few minutes.
When debris will re-enter is largely a function of its orbit. Rotation rate won't really enter into it much.
Regards,
Mike Combs

Will all "space debrie" with in the space between earth and
moon, will it fall to earth after some years or is there a chance
for it to escape into space.

If the space debrie is going to return to earth can we
calculate its time when will it be falling to earth and will the
rotation of the debrie affect it falling to the earth.