Resolve whether spacecraft should be designed for total demise or recovery

Determine whether low-Earth-orbit spacecraft should be designed to demis​e completely during atmospheric reentry or instead to survive reentry for reuse or material recovery, resolving the associated environmental trade-offs.

Background

The chapter presents a conflict between Design-for-Demise, which reduces the risk of surviving debris reaching the ground but may increase atmospheric material injection, and Design for Non-Demise, which could enable reuse or material recovery but may create other safety and disposal concerns. The chapter explicitly leaves the preferred design strategy unresolved. The issue combines atmospheric pollution, orbital debris prevention, human-safety requirements, and the possibility of a more circular space economy.