The company will set another record: the number of recycled satellites
SpaceX plans to recycle 100 Starlink satellites, forming the world's largest satellite constellation. This decision was made after company engineers discovered a potential problem that could lead to satellite failure in the future and create a possible threat to other spacecraft.
Rather than risk causing potential problems for other satellites, SpaceX will perform special maneuvers aimed at burning satellites in the atmosphere. Given that these Starlink satellites are in active service, such premature destruction would result in significant financial losses: 100 satellites totaling approximately $25 million, including launch costs. As a rule, companies strive to maximize the return on such investments, so they are interested in the long-term operation of satellites, and not in their destruction.
Experts noted the high responsibility of SpaceX. They praised SpaceX for taking action to address issues that were seen regarding the stability of the satellite network. Many experts tried to imagine the implementation of effective actions to prevent collisions in outer space on such a scale, but SpaceX decided to quickly remove satellites from Earth orbit.
The total mass of the dismantled 100 satellites will be about 30 tons, which is not comparable with the volumes of large space objects, such as the SkyLab and Mir space stations that burned up in the atmosphere.
Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who maintains a wide database of space missions and their results, notes that this event will set a new record for the number of satellites launched from a single satellite constellation. It is predicted that in 2023 alone, 655 spacecraft will go into orbit, of which 85 will be Starlink satellites.