Decay
In space and astronautical engineering, decay refers to the gradual decrease in altitude of an object in orbit due to atmospheric drag. This phenomenon occurs because even at high altitudes, there are still some gas molecules present in the atmosphere that can cause drag on the object. Over time, this drag causes the object's orbit to decay, eventually leading to reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. Decay can also refer to the natural breakdown of materials and components in the harsh environment of space, such as the degradation of solar panels or the corrosion of metal parts due to exposure to radiation and micrometeoroids.
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