Orbital Decay

Orbital decay is a phenomenon that occurs when a satellite or other object in orbit around a celestial body loses altitude and ultimately falls into the body's atmosphere. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including atmospheric drag, gravitational perturbations from other objects, and solar radiation pressure. As the object loses altitude, its speed increases, which in turn increases the amount of atmospheric drag it experiences, leading to a further decrease in altitude. If left unchecked, this process can eventually lead to the object burning up in the atmosphere or crashing into the surface of the celestial body. Orbital decay is an important consideration for space missions, as it can limit the useful lifetime of satellites and other spacecraft, and can also pose a risk to people and infrastructure on the ground if the falling object is large enough.

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Orbital Decay

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