It has always applied to LEO. Scifi media transformed it into the idea of “nothing will ever be able to leave the planet ever again” but the original studies that the phrase originated from included LEO. Despite the fact that there is enough atmosphere that a lot of the debris would experience sufficient drag for their orbits to decay within several years, not decades or millenia, it would still have huge impacts.
Yes it does because parts of LEO have such low air resistance that the junk will stay up there for a very long time. However, I think part of how the Starlink satellites work is being so low that they do deorbit pretty quickly.
Does that apply to LEO? Seems to be self clearing in the medium term
It has always applied to LEO. Scifi media transformed it into the idea of “nothing will ever be able to leave the planet ever again” but the original studies that the phrase originated from included LEO. Despite the fact that there is enough atmosphere that a lot of the debris would experience sufficient drag for their orbits to decay within several years, not decades or millenia, it would still have huge impacts.
I was like wtf does this have to do with law enforcement 🤦🤦🤦
Yes it does because parts of LEO have such low air resistance that the junk will stay up there for a very long time. However, I think part of how the Starlink satellites work is being so low that they do deorbit pretty quickly.