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A comment on ISS throws away 2.9 tons of trash into orbit. Parent comment

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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