ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit

Re:ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit by aeternum on Tuesday March 16, 2021 @02:34AM (#26473668)

I wonder if they could add a trash launcher to the ISS. If some kind of spring or slingshot threw trash retrograde with sufficient velocity, there should be two advantages:

1) The trash would be put in an orbit with a lower periapsis, increasing atmospheric drag causing it to re-enter and burn up more quickly.

2) The orbit of the ISS would be boosted by dV of the trash, reducing the fuel required for the next boost.

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Re:ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit by sterlind on Tuesday March 16, 2021 @03:08AM (#26473817)

Would you have to launch half the trash at apoapsis and half at periapsis to keep the orbit from deviating? (I've only played ksp.)

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Re:ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit by 4gotunameagain on Tuesday March 16, 2021 @08:05AM (#26475600)

Since to not alter your orbit you'd need one prograde moment and one retrograde, one of the two launches you describe would raise the apogee instead of lowering the perigee, defeating the purpose

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Re:ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit by Just1689 on Tuesday March 16, 2021 @11:33AM (#26478155)

Just a question: Would pushing the trash away also push the space station in the opposite direction?

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Re:ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit by aeternum on Tuesday March 16, 2021 @02:55PM (#26481249)

Yes, but that is part of the point. Atmospheric drag causes the orbit of the ISS to continuously decay (fall deeper into the atmosphere).

The ISS must expend fuel to push its orbit back up periodically. The momentum of the trash would help push the ISS higher.

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Re:ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit by 67868018 on Tuesday March 16, 2021 @12:11PM (#26478725)

yep, equal and opposite reaction. they'd have to counteract it.

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