Get the latest Science News and Discoveries

Rethinking How We End A Satellite's Mission


At the end of their lives, most satellites fall to their death. Many of the smaller ones, including most of those going up as part of the “mega-constellations” currently under construction, are intended to burn up in the atmosphere. This Design for Demise (D4D) principle has unintended consequences, according to a paper by Antoinette Ott and Christophe Bonnal, both of whom work for MaiaSpace, a company designing reusable launch vehicles for the small satellite market.

None

Get the Android app

Or read this on Universe Today

Read more on:

Photo of Satellite

Satellite

Photo of Mission

Mission

Related news:

News photo

Longtime United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno resigns from space company. 'Finished the mission I came to do.'

News photo

New LEO constellation design boosts satellite-based computing for 6G networks - EurekAlert!

News photo

Satellite watches volcano spew ash over Middle East | Space photo of the day for Dec. 16, 2025