On Jun/12/2020 at 07:09, Jeff Findley wrote :
In article , says...

Has a hostile Earth environment of LEO satellite clusters and
telecommunications, established a de-facto ban on the use of Space
Elevators and giant Tesla Coils (for wireless power distribution) on
Earth. Leaving them to the Moon and Mars? If ever?

LEO satellites, no. They fall out of orbit after a very few years, even
if completely dead and unpowered.

It's all the crap that's much higher up that's a huge problem. For
example, all the former GEO satellites and stages that are in
"graveyard" orbits. They're dead and can't maneuver and their high
orbital altitude will keep them up there for an insane number of years.

Cite:

https://www.nasa.gov/news/debris_faq.html

From above:

How long will orbital debris remain in Earth orbit?

The higher the altitude, the longer the orbital debris will
typically remain in Earth orbit. Debris left in orbits below
370 miles (600 km) normally fall back to Earth within several
years. At altitudes of 500 miles (800 km), the time for
orbital decay is often measured in decades. Above 620 miles
(1,000 km), orbital debris normally will continue circling
Earth for a century or more.

Debris at an altitude of 1000 km sure are a problem for space elevators.
But the former GEO satellites shouldn't be much of a problem. A former
GEO satellite in a graveyard orbit will usually have a delta-v
relatively to the cable of a few meters per second. And a hit would be
about where the cable is at its thickest. So I don't think it would be a
problem.


Alain Fournier