Since commercial launches use vehicles that only make a one-way trip to space, does this mean the satellites they launch can be recovered from space for repairs or when they e no longer useful?
It’s true that there are no vehicles that can return commercial satellites to Earth for repairs or at the end of their operating lives. The Shuttle could retrieve certain satellites, depending on their orbit, but does not serve commercial satellites. This does not, however, mean that repairs do not occur or that satellites remain in their operating orbits forever. Certain repairs to satellite systems can be made with clever re-programming or other procedures done on Earth and uploaded to the satellite. And when satellites are worn out or no longer needed, they are often either boosted into very high orbits or moved into orbits that will cause them to eventually fall back to Earth and burn up in the atmosphere. Both of these maneuvers are important because they help ensure that the older satellites won’t interfere with operational satellites or take up valuable orbital slots that newer satellites could use.
Related Questions
- Since commercial launches use vehicles that only make a one-way trip to space, does this mean the satellites they launch can be recovered from space for repairs or when they e no longer useful?
- I thought NASA conducted all space launches. Why don commercial satellites fly on the Space Shuttle?
- Why does Hughes launch satellites on Chinese Long March launch vehicles?
