Atmospheric Drag

Atmospheric drag is the force exerted on a spacecraft or satellite as it moves through the Earth's atmosphere. This force is caused by the friction between the object and the air molecules in the atmosphere. The amount of atmospheric drag depends on the object's velocity, altitude, and the density of the atmosphere. As a spacecraft or satellite moves through the atmosphere, it loses energy due to atmospheric drag, which can cause it to slow down and eventually re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. This can be a significant challenge for spacecraft and satellites in low Earth orbit, as they must constantly adjust their altitude to compensate for atmospheric drag and maintain their orbit.
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