Comment on Beyond Gravity: the complex quest to take out our orbital trashComments−guard-of-terra12yWhy can't we launch something like blobs of clay. Let objects stuck in it, and then it would deorbit on its own.−iSnow12yThey're too fast I guess. Try catching a rifle bullet with a blob of clay. And space debries can be way faster, i.e. have more kinetic energy.−exDM6912yIf you read the article all the way to the end, there was a suggestion of using aerogels to do exactly what you propose. But this was among the most expensive methods suggested.
Comments
Why can't we launch something like blobs of clay. Let objects stuck in it, and then it would deorbit on its own.
They're too fast I guess. Try catching a rifle bullet with a blob of clay. And space debries can be way faster, i.e. have more kinetic energy.
If you read the article all the way to the end, there was a suggestion of using aerogels to do exactly what you propose. But this was among the most expensive methods suggested.