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Debris Mitigation and Active Removal

Keeping orbits usable through design and operations.

mysimulator teamUpdated June 2026≈ 3 min read▶ Open the simulation

Approaches

Design-for-demise and passivation

Drag sails, tethers, and controlled reentry

Active removal: capture, towing, and servicing

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Example

Example: Drag-Sail Deorbit System

Integrate compact sail module.

Trigger at end of mission.

Verify reentry in target window.

Frequently asked questions

Legal issues?

Ownership and consent for removal.

Tracking?

SSA networks and cataloguing.

Risks?

Collision and fragmentation.

Economics?

Who pays for public-good orbits?

Standards?

25-year rule and ISO guidelines.

Tech readiness?

Demonstrated by multiple missions.

Large constellations?

Design rules and auto-deorbit.

Autonomy?

Guidance and capture control.

Insurance?

Liability and risk transfer.

Future?

Market mechanisms and treaties.

Try it live

Everything above runs in your browser — open Spiral Galaxy and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.

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