Orbital Decay (1 Viewer)

[velox]

In the teachers notes there is something called "Deliberate Orbital Decay" Where they slow the satellite down so that it will fall to Earth (and i assume they will repair or something). However in the textbook it says that the satellite will burn up as its going through the denser air hence having more drag, and then eventually burning up. Anyone know if there is such thing as "Deliberate Orbital Decay" or something along the lines of it, and how it works?

 

[Xayma]

It would be cheaper to replace the satellite, then bring it down from orbit, (with the associated parachutes etc) and recover it. Considering that you have to bring it down over the ocean. It is more to not leave it floating there which many still are.

 

[zeropoint]

Just as the name implies, they deliberately lower the orbit using attitude thrusters, atmospheric drag, solar wind or whatever so that the satellite eventually burns up in the atmosphere. This is done in order to remove space debris, which is already a major problem in low earth orbit.

 

[Xayma]

On that note the only satellite I know they did that to recover it was the genesis, which wasn't a complete success (the parachutes didnt open correctly) but most of it could be recovered.

 

[velox]

Just as the name implies, they deliberately lower the orbit using attitude thrusters, atmospheric drag, solar wind or whatever so that the satellite eventually burns up in the atmosphere. This is done in order to remove space debris, which is already a major problem in low earth orbit.

Thanks Zeropoint. Exactly what i was looking for.