How We Take Spacecraft Out of Orbit

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How do we get spacecraft out of orbit? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice break down everything you need to know about deorbiting spacecraft and safely reentering our atmosphere. How are we going to get the ISS out of orbit?
Learn about terminal velocity, escape velocity, and how aerobraking heat shields save fuel. We discuss issues with uncontrolled orbits and crashing into the Pacific Ocean. Plus, why did we let Casini burn up in Saturn’s atmosphere? How are we going to get the ISS out of orbit? Neil also shares his ideas about the new space race and China’s space station.
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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
#StarTalk #neildegrassetyson
00:00 - Introduction: Deorbiting
00:30 - Breaking Down Reentry
3:11 - Getting to Terminal Velocity
4:35 - Aerobraking with Heat Shields
7:41 - Deorbiting Casini
8:32 - Deorbiting the ISS & China’s Space Station
10:02 - The New Space Race
11:30 - Closing Thoughts

[@StarTalk]

What did you learn from this Explainer?

[@homerodysseus4203]

That the ISS isn't going to be tearing into some unfortunate poor peoples' houses when we retire it. China on the other hand....

[@benjamindemontgomery6317]

Why don't they recycle the space station when we build the next one? ready available materials.

[@ChristopherCurtis]

6:00 headwinds in the troposphere are insane!

[@ShonMardani]

Only racist and fakers call their competition an adversary.

[@stix2you]

@@benjamindemontgomery6317 Yes, this! I was going to ask the same question. If it's so hard to get mass up into orbit, doesn't it seem useful to use the material that is there and repurpose it? Must come down to money, I'm guessing, like everything. :P

[@DarriusGreene-Lewis]

The frustration on Neil's face when he said "42" 😂😂

[@KageraEdward]

😂😂😂 he almost cried

[@petersage5157]

Yes, that was so clearly *not* scripted. :|

[@a.j.infowars7582]

Or when he mentioned “China”!!!

[@adamdejesus4017]

Chuck thought he asked about life, the universe, and everything.

[@benjamindemontgomery6317]

42 IS THE UNIVERSAL ANSWER TO EVERYTHING

[@peakingmantis5331]

When Chuck said 42, I felt that.

[@CineSoar]

As someone who hated rote memorization, the multiplication table is 'fuzzy' around the mid 6's and 7's. So, I actually came to the correct answer at about the same moment Chuck did. I do think he missed a comedic opportunity to echo Neil's frustration, when Neil says "49 is twice 25."

[@boigeorge1149]

I hesitate to add another thumbs up to this, it's too good.

[@maitlinjoyner107]

36 😃

[@Nova2Yung]

Lmfao literally me

[@rude_people_die_young]

HHGTTG

[@huwmenear]

Neil's recovery when Chuck finally says '49' 😂

[@nextuplevelup4119]

🤣🤣🔥

[@Life_42]

2:45 Thanks for the shoutout Chuck, 42!

[@cyprax_o28]

Who else understands concepts better with Neil than at School? >>>>>>

[@user-zt8sm2uc5z]

💯

[@johnsmith1474]

Try studying & teaching yourself.

[@gulfy09]

Neil is a failed comedian.

[@dynamitedingo8183]

he is also a Astrophysicist with a PhD@@gulfy09

[@drink15]

I mean, you’re an adult now so lots of things are easier to understand. But i get what you are saying.

[@lebac]

Chuck knows the anwer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe, and Everything!

[@randomkindness1470]

I too also said 42 in my head ...then I saw the pain... the level of love that have for the two of you is ....

[@akwinoz]

Always great to see Neil using his office, at the Hayden Planitarium as a set . So many interesting books and artifacts just out of focus. Would be great if when filming from his office that Neil shares some info on the books on his shelves. Ideally, one title every time he post a video from his office, but even a Book of the Month would be great. Books are awesome, they don't need batteries and totally impervious to solar storms and any other forms of electromagnetic interference. Please share !👍👍👍

[@olaseniprince5758]

Great idea

[@sherylbegby]

Great idea.

[@chrisblack9851]

We need a 3 Body Problem analysis video Dr. Neil, that show was so awesome

[@CrzyGazara]

the chinise version was so much better.

[@kylewallis31]

It was mid

[@chrisblack9851]

@@kylewallis31 Nah u trippin

[@chrisblack9851]

@@CrzyGazara Nah u trippin too

[@travelinman70]

When chuck talked about mental health. You got me as a fan!

[@silvercloud1641]

For sure. It takes guts to be open about that and show that anyone can suffer from mental issues.

[@petersage5157]

Don't know about Chuck and Neil, but I think most of us learn "two and two make four" even before we learn that E = mc^2. Fight me on this one.

[@mikeuk666]

😂 yes

[@vanshamb]

I learnt KE = 1/2 MV² much before E=MC² Idk why Neil didn't use kinetic energy to explain it, am i wrong thinking this way?

[@yessopie]

@@vanshamb If you actually study physics, you learn that K=1/2 mv² much earlier, but people who haven't studied physics have never heard of K=1/2 mv², they've only heard of E=mc², even if they never really understand what it means. Abstractly, though, both equations say the same thing about energy: that it has _dimensions_ of mass times velocity squared.

[@y4playiny4self]

@@yessopie Isnt K=1/2 mv`2 a tiny part of the full E=MC`2 equation?

[@petersage5157]

@@vanshamb ur not wrong; I think Neil was just going for the low hanging fruit that the common undereducated American would know, even if their understanding of it is closer to E = MC Hammer. The kinetic energy formula is precisely what engineers use for spacecraft kinetics. The kinetic energy formula is part of General Relativity, and in non-relativistic cases GR reduces to KE. The mass energy equivalency is what Special Relativity reduces to for speeds that are not a significant fraction of the speed of light. They're both parabolic equations that fall out of hyperbolic equations.

[@joanhall3718]

E=MC2 is not the first equation learned in school. It was probably 1 + 1 = 2

[@GabrielMbokaOFFICIAL]

I thought so too, but for now let's just leave the smart people talk 😊

[@princejbc2003]

I think that was just a Tyson style joke 😅

[@jensyrodriguez7828]

when chuck said 7^2 square = 42 💀🤯 Neil is hilarious 2:27

[@jeffreybaker5179]

He would have liked to die when my boy said 42. Lol

[@Nivola1953]

Chuck Mistake was just a showman slip, because “The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything is 42”, from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[@walter6574]

I'm on your team Chuck. I got as check up from the neck up and found great meds to get me through life. My wife and kids suffered for too many years with my depression. Anyone who meets me now sees a happy me.

[@jenisemcintyre3839]

I'm glad that you can fully enjoy your family. Thanks for sharing!

[@richardtutor8331]

It's nice to listen in on you guys. Love all the information I get . Thank you.

[@CMDRGhostNappa]

@StarTalk , im glad and appreciative of Chuck touching upon a subject that almost no one talks about. I understand this is the primary channel , but I do believe having a podcast about mental health in general would be a great subject for your secondary channel Startalk +. It's not everyday that astrophysicists come out and openly talk about their mental health. Chuck I appreciate you.

[@xvars9640]

Beautiful, just beautiful conversation.

[@ooichiewlean548]

I'm glad Chuck is now feeling better, I can actually see you were putting up fake smiles previously and I can see that you actually feeling real down at the time.

[@Nicola_Harvey]

Love you guys 💓 I listen most nights....so relaxing and yes I have a smoke lol 😁

[@kumarraj2012]

42..! Yes, that’s the answer to everything in the universe..! ❤😊

[@bhishankhatiwoda7537]

@12:04 that's what i thought and wanted to hear and he spoke....whatever happens, it happens for good !!!

[@broke2bentleys]

I listen to these every night when I go to sleep! Absolutely love you guys, keep it up!

[@GlobeEarthMike]

I love Chuck's reactions!

[@Kim_Miller]

Chuck got it right, 42 is the answer to everything. Neil just didn't get the joke.

[@GammaFields]

Thank you Chuck, that really resonated with me and gave me solace.

[@bdr420i]

This ad is so brave 🎉 thank you and thanks to the graphics team it's amazing

[@mishunkage1480]

I appreciate the therapy advice. It's really important and good for everyone to understand ❤

[@dawnhansen7886]

I Love these guys ! I Love StarTalk ❤ Educational Entertainment to the MAX ❕️

[@anthonycamilleri7297]

thank you so much dr neill

[@a24396]

This video is why I don't do math in public... And kinda' not cool to both put Chuck on the spot like that and then shame him rather than just say something like "Not quite, I think it's 49" (or something similar) Lastly, Chuck, thanks for being so willing to share your struggle with depression - that's a very difficult thing to talk about, and, as you said: often a source of shame. I'm glad you found the help you needed and what worked for you!

[@stevenqirkle]

I disagree. Unless you have a severe learning disability, I think it’s kind of shameful to not know your multiplication tables as an adult. I agree it’s not cool to shame people with disabilities, but in Chuck’s case I suspect it’s probably not a disability, but rather he just didn’t do his math homework in 3rd grade.

[@a24396]

@@stevenqirkle I don't agree. Not everyone can recite multiplication tables for a variety of reasons, many having nothing to do with severe disability. Just like some people have bad spelling. That's not a moral failing either, however much you may want to judge people for that.

[@stevenqirkle]

@@a24396 in a 10x10 multiplication table, there are 55 unique combinations to remember. Anyone can do it. It’s nowhere near as difficult as spelling, which has a much larger vocabulary as well as many homophones and irregularities. What other reasons are there besides not putting in the effort and/or learning disability?

[@a24396]

@@stevenqirkle Incredulity is not an argument. Just because you can't imagine this doesn't mean it's not a real problem for people who are both not lazy and not profoundly disabled. I recommend you go to google and search for 'reasons people don't remember multiplication tables.' You might discover that human brains aren't just biological equivalents of calculators/computers and not everyone is 'wired' the same. In the same way that some people 'get' spelling and others don't, some people 'get' mathematics and others don't. Or... Continue to disbelieve anything you don't understand or for which you haven't figured out an answer... Whatever makes you happy!

[@duy5907]

It's so good for me to found this guy now I can listening to amazing things while I'm on bus to school

[@danielchandi8198]

As always these explainers are really good

[@joshuabates7424]

Thank you for your message Chuck. I would like to hear more about that.

[@Lamjed]

LOL 7^2 42, Neil's REaction is priceless!

[@chrism3784]

I love you two, always keeping me entertained, and my fix for space

[@TuxedoMaskMusic]

Lord Chuck At The Cosmic Crib. I'd go to see that stand up show in a heart beat!

[@bMonsterPro]

You guys make learning so entertaining

[@Ughandi]

The editor is having fun with these. Keep it up!

[@cspahn3221]

2:50 Neil went through all the stages of Grief here lmao

[@Bella-yl9zm]

Chuck’s note about depression resonated beautifully ❤

[@ernesto-dev]

Chuck was right with 42. It’s the answer to life, the universe, and *everything*.

[@carguybikeguy]

I appreciate you guys. Well done.

[@MichioKaku-in9yb]

What is this, chemical thing in the brain? What causes it? The chemical reaction i mean.

[@stefanosygus8762]

Is it coded through our dna?

[@AK_14564]

They have a video about depression where they discuss it more with Dr Heather Berlin

[@thesege]

Asking the same here

[@MichioKaku-in9yb]

""""Is it coded through our dna?"""""" The cause, or the effect? It's science, so it must have both the cause and or the effect, besides the coding?

[@ARandomInternetUser08]

@@MichioKaku-in9yb 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

A fantastic synergy, I've been watching for a while now and will be watching all the back catalogue. Thankyou for being teachers, entertainers and ultimately - humbling me enough to want to learn 😇🕹👌 Stay retro

[@TranceXZero]

Haha omg that frustration from Neil haha I was like no chuck noooooo 😂

[@Mrleahey]

Really enjoyed this one

[@Reasononemedia]

you guys should've talked about starship flight 3 with the amazing video views we got of this exact thing with the heat shield, and the plasma starting to heat up!! =)

[@h.e.x.]

The editing in this video is hilarious. The 42 and E thing both were awesome. I'm not even 5 minutes in. 😂

[@kenkahre9262]

Chuck - I'm glad you're feeling better.

[@kidistight]

The sad music when Chuck got 7 squared had me dying.

[@stevekirkby6570]

Considering the cost of getting all that material up there (that could be re-purposed / re-used) is de-orbiting the best solution though?

[@renardmiller733]

this was amazing!!!!!!

[@BLOXKAFELLARECORDS]

I love it. 🔥

[@T-800__]

nice office, very nice ... can you do a guided tour around it some time in the future?

[@RythmGkwd]

The intros, the animation and the set are fantastic ❤

[@yaelbj]

A helpful analogy for visualizing an object entering Earth's atmosphere is to envision yourself in a speeding boat, seated at the edge, with your hands skimming the water. The sensation of the turbulent fluid rushing past your hands, potentially causing harm, mirrors the experience of an object encountering Earth's atmosphere.

[@jimmyzhao2673]

Chuck starts to talk about Taiwan and almost causes an international incident.

[@BenjySparky]

Neil and Chuck, y'all rock! ❤Peace 🤘 💥 ✌️

[@jamespettit1792]

Love the Black Hole lunchbox on the shelf. I saw that movie with my grandpa.

[@kirandeepchakraborty7921]

Beautiful

[@fsj197811]

Speaking of Endeavor, it's now vertical on a full launch stack while the new display facility is built around it.

[@dadofsteel]

I think that it would be very interesting to see a Startalk review&analysis episode of science presented in The Three-Body Problem(the Netflix tv series, the book or both). Maybe Chuck thought Neil asked him what is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.

[@Jane-yj1to]

Good times!!

[@user-zw1qe2ju1l]

Hi love the show... Any news on the latest observered supernova?

[@solo-ion3633]

Their conversation about E=mc² illustrates most people's gap between knowing something and understanding something.

[@sketchtheparadigmyork1217]

2:50 OMG THE EDITING LOL they never do meme edits

[@MzeeMoja1]

Neil looked genuinely hurt by that 42, the man looks distraught 😩 the way it hit him I thought oh no 🙆🏾‍♂️😟 then the music and visual editing was spot on 👌🏿

[@user-bk1um4mp7h]

Love you Chuck.

[@mariahbrown4830]

Chuck’s advertisement about his mental heath journey is great! BUT, I sometimes wonder if he gets tired of playing dumb. I BELIEVE this man to have vast intellect. It is obvious due to his quick witedness.

[@outdoorsy01]

Star talk radio on Alexa 👍 Star talk on KZbin 👍 Neil Degrasse Tyson and Sir Chuck 👍👍 That is all

[@RockPowerUSA]

You guys are great all the time. Gets me to remember to watch Stanton Friedman. I think you would both love to have him on asking some really fun questions because watch this whole summary show of his. It's on UMMN TV on Y.. JUST PUT OUT AN HOUR AGO. I think it's awesome🎉 You guys will be great together, for at least 2 hours or MORE If you can get together.

[@ArtsyFartsyLovers]

Nice 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@donnierice9509]

How do you get to substitute other velocity values into the E=MC^2 equation to calculate energy when C (speed of light) is a constant?

[@KwazyBoba]

We all know that 42 is the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything". Chuck you were right, my man.

[@JamesSims]

Thanks Chuck for the beautiful picture of depression and mental health!

[@michaelespinosa145]

Could you explain the black hole stars?

[@bradheath4200]

Sir Chuck, I was drawing a blank on seven squared myself. Some days I shine. Some days I'm prone catching on fire. Lol

[@JoseHernandez-bh8ix]

that 42 had me going too 😂

[@missjayspeechley9213]

When it's time to replace the International Space Station, how feasible would a "take a new module up, bring an old module down" system be? Maybe not for every module, but the opportunity to study what 25+ years of exposure to space has done to the craft

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Neil and Chuck for 2024!

[@danielmadar9938]

Thanks

[@Xabi_MM]

great editing! was fun to watch

[@CanadianPrimate]

Agreed the ol space adversary very astute.

[@aleksandarstevanovic5854]

Neils stories + Kerbal Space Program, what more do you need? one more interesting thing, why do they land in ocean but not on the hill or a mountain? killed a few Kerbals to figure it out :)

[@PocketBrain]

_Space Adversaries_ was my favorite 1980s video game.

[@vhbata4220]

I absolutely love the editing in this explanation.😂😂😂😂😂chuck

[@Oceans305]

Cosmic Crib sounds cool

[@cosmickitteh]

2:40 I'm crying

[@kimberlymonsini2604]

4:34 teaching at its finest! From on educator to another...well, done.

[@RevolutionX42]

we need a funny sound or a counter every time they clash hands pleeeeeaaaaseeee

[@mikeswartspapa]

@Startalk I pay for No ads. That should include your ads too.

[@ashoksafaya5397]

Just a question of being static or dynamic, my forgotten Lamis theorem.

[@ejmtv3]

I saw the Tiangong Space Station pass by once. I identified it using the Stellarium app and I knew it wasn't the ISS cause the light appeared smaller in the sky.

[@kavorka8855]

OMG! Chuck! I lost my stomach from laughter! 😂 In Seinfeld, George and Elaine say to Jerry, he cannot not be funny, Chuck is the same, he cannot not be funny! 🤣

[@proud_atheist5759]

That firmament plays havoc with spaceships...

[@NeilThe604Atheist]

Hahaha

[@aleximraypapineau]

Hats off to the editor for giving Neil's "E!" reverb. Topkek meme.

[@rtyuik7]

4:24 - i dont know Why i appreciate the amount of echo on that "E!", but i do