Spacecraft is refilled with refuse, and then undocked and de-orbited—essentially using the Earth’s atmosphere as an incinerator.

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After the cargo has been transferred to the ISS, the spacecraft is refilled with refuse, and then undocked and de-orbited—essentially using the Earth’s atmosphere as an incinerator for both the spent spacecraft and the refuse. Shown is the reentry plasma trail of one such spacecraft, the ISS Progress 42P supply vehicle. Light from the rising sun illuminates the curvature of the Earth limb.

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Size: 4256px × 2832px
Photo credit: © NASA Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -entry, atmosphere, burn, burning, de-orbit, de-orbited, earth, exploration, incinerate, incineration, nasa, orbit, reentry, refuse, rubbish, space, spacecraft, trash