Passive device designed to facilitate demise of a space system during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere

A space system (1) comprising:

• a structure (2) formed by structure components (3),
• an on-board equipment (5) carried by the structure (2), and
• a passive device designed to facilitate demise of the space system (1) during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere;
• wherein the passive device comprises connecting members (4) designed to stably connect the structure components (3) to each other;
• wherein each connecting member (4) comprises a plurality of connecting components (6, 7, 13, 14) designed to mate with each other so as to create a stable connection between a corresponding pair of structure components (3) during launch and orbit operation of the space system (1);
• wherein at least one connecting member (4) includes at least one primer component (14) that is made of a primer material which is different from that of the other connecting components (6, 7, 13) and that decays at re-entry altitudes greater than those at which the other connecting components (6, 7, 13) decay, thereby (i) loosening the stable connection created by the connecting member (4) during re-entry of the space system (1) into the Earth's atmosphere (ii) allowing the two structure components (3) to disconnect from each other, and (iii) triggering demise of the structure (2) of the space system (1).