Editing Openai/67d4b565-61e4-8006-aeac-c9747304fd3d (section)

====== - A satellite can store charge, but space objects like debris are mostly neutral. If an object has no net charge (q2=0q_2 = 0q2=0), then no force is applied. ======
* Even if a space object is partially charged, the force drops as 1/r21/r^21/r2, meaning that at practical distances (e.g., 1 km away), the force is minuscule.

Let’s assume:
* You manage to charge the satellite to 1 million Coulombs (which is already way beyond feasible limits).
* A piece of space debris is 1 Coulomb and 100 meters away.

Then:

F=(8.99×109)(106)(1)1002F = \frac{(8.99 \times 10^9) (10^6) (1)}{100^2}F=1002(8.99×109)(106)(1)
F=8.99×1015104=8.99×1011 NF = \frac{8.99 \times 10^{15}}{10^4} = 8.99 \times 10^{11} \, \text{N}F=1048.99×1015=8.99×1011N
That seems like a huge force, but remember:
# Generating 1 million Coulombs is nearly impossible. The largest capacitors store microcoulombs (millionths of a Coulomb).
# Most space debris is uncharged. Even with charge, the debris would repel instead of attract unless it had opposite polarity.
# Charges neutralize over time in space due to the solar wind. The moment the satellite gets hit by plasma from the Sun, it will lose its charge.