An artist's concept depicts how DARPA's SeeMe program would
work. The program aims to design disposable satellite clusters
that will give soldiers location-based information in places
where they would typically not have satellite coverage. (Source:
DARPA) Low orbit altitude is defined as 100 - 1240 miles high.
Any pilot that goes over 50 miles up or higher gains an
astronaut rating. The lower the orbit, the lower the speed
needed. I don't know what altitude will sustain a satellite for
3 months, but I would think it can lower than 100 miles. Anyone?
In the articles I've seen on space debris, I haven't seen
anything about clean-up. Not sure you can. NASA is tracking it,
though. As for a satellite that disposes of itself, I don't see
how that happens in space unless it is sent into the atmosphere,
which would burn it up. It's good these satellites are launched
in a way they become self-disposing. But touting the price
ignores the cost/benefit ratio.Yes, they are a fraction of the
cost, but you get a small fract