GallantChaos

GallantChaos t1_jczf6o4 wrote

I see two possibilities for why this may not be:

  1. Those thrusters may be necessary for collision avoidance during the deorbit phase. (to prevent hitting in-service satellites)

  2. The thrusters are used and depleted to keep the satellites in orbit - and thus in service - as long as possible.

Adding a parachute like this may help increase drag and can be deployed with little additional cost/mass.

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