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Orbital decay is a gradual decrease of the distance between two orbiting bodies at their closest approach (the periapsis) over many orbital periods. These orbiting bodies can be a planet and its satellite, a star and any object orbiting it, or components of any binary system.
2 kwi 2024 · Orbital decay is a phenomenon that occurs when a satellite or spacecraft in orbit around a celestial body, such as the Earth, gradually loses altitude and eventually re-enters the atmosphere. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including atmospheric drag, gravitational forces, and other external influences.
Orbital decay simulator, or satellite reentry calculator, is a tool used to predict when a satellite or other orbiting object will reenter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up. It is based on satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
29 mar 2023 · While not a direct cause of orbital decay, uneven mass distributions (known as mascons) of the body being orbited can perturb orbits over time, and extreme distributions can cause orbits to be highly unstable.
The rate of 'decay' of the orbit becomes very rapid at altitudes less than 200 km, and by the time the satellite is down to 180 km it will only have a few hours to live before it makes a fiery re-entry down to the Earth.
13 lut 2024 · Orbital Debris (OD) is any human-made object in orbit that no longer serves a useful purpose, including spacecraft fragments and retired satellites. NASA’s OD Program Office measures the environment and leads mitigation efforts to protect users of the orbital environment.
Orbital decay is a critical concept in the field of aerospace engineering and astrophysics that refers to the process by which an object in orbit around a planet gradually decreases its altitude, leading to potential re-entry into the planet's atmosphere or a change in its orbital characteristics.