Decommissioning
In the context of aerospace engineering, decommissioning refers to the process of retiring a spacecraft, satellite, or space station from active service. This process involves several stages, including planning, deactivation, deorbiting, and disposal. Planning involves assessing the current state of the spacecraft and determining the best method for decommissioning. Deactivation involves shutting down the spacecraft's systems and functions, often in a specific sequence to prevent damage or uncontrolled reactions. Deorbiting is the process of lowering the spacecraft's orbit to prepare for re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere or to move it to a 'graveyard' orbit where it will not pose a risk to other operational spacecraft. Disposal can involve allowing the spacecraft to burn up upon re-entry, or it can involve guiding the spacecraft to a controlled landing or crash, often in a remote area such as an ocean. Decommissioning is a critical aspect of spacecraft lifecycle management, ensuring that end-of-life spacecraft do not pose a risk to other spacecraft or to Earth.
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