Once you have built a space yard you can launch satellites into orbit from the planet launch/recover. Then use the scrap/analyze button to scrap them so you get some return for your money. If you have no room for a yard then you do have to pick them up as cargo and transfer to a planet with a yard, but this makes sense only if there are a LOT of them or if you will be visiting that planet anyway. If neither option is available then jettison or self destruct in the scrap/analyze will do it. I use self destruct to get rid of mines orbiting my planets once an area has been totally secured.

Cargo jettison is a white box with red flame coming out the top on the icon line above the planet display. It does not light up until you have selected a planet with cargo available to be jettisoned.

[This message has been edited by LCC (edited 20 May 2001).]