There is a frequent question about what happens to satellites that finish their useful life in space: are they removed from their orbits, or do they remain, contributing to the accumulation of space debris?
Functions and Orbit Types
Currently, about 17.6 thousand satellites are operating around our planet, playing crucial roles in various areas. Their functions include transmitting telecommunication signals, meteorological monitoring, Earth observation to aid agriculture and monitor deforestation, navigation support like GPS, in addition to supporting astronomical studies.
When these devices stop functioning, there are generally two possibilities: either the satellite is directed out of orbit to reenter the atmosphere, or it remains in space, becoming space debris.
Orbit Classification
Active satellites use four distinct categories of orbit. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) covers altitudes up to 2,000 km. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) extends from 2,000 km up to approximately 35,786 km. Geostationary Orbit (GEO) is located 35,786 km above the equator, characterized by a rotation period equal to that of the Earth, giving the illusion of fixed presence in the sky, which is ideal for communications and meteorology.
Another category is Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), defined by large variations between the lowest and highest points of the trajectory.
Reentry and Alternative Destinations
The largest concentration of active satellites, about 12.8 thousand, is in LEO, a region with a very thin atmosphere. Over time, this atmosphere generates resistance, gradually decreasing the satellite's speed and altitude.
Upon losing sufficient altitude, the satellite enters the atmosphere at high speed. Friction causes extreme heating, potentially exceeding 1,500 °C, resulting in the vaporization or fragmentation of most of the object. Therefore, many modern models are designed to perform a controlled reentry, using remaining fuel to fall into safe locations, often over sparsely populated oceans, such as the South Pacific Uninhabited Area.
In higher orbits, such as GEO, reentry requires considerable fuel consumption. In these cases, operators move the satellite to a 'graveyard orbit,' situated several hundred kilometers above the operational orbit, keeping it away from active satellites to minimize collision risks.
The Space Debris Problem
These satellites in graveyard orbits remain there indefinitely, although factors such as solar radiation pressures and gravitational perturbations can alter their trajectories. Without communication or fuel, they become inert objects, joining rocket stages and other human debris, forming space junk.
Historically, many initial missions did not follow proper disposal protocols, leaving satellites in orbit after mission completion, which contributed to the accumulation of debris.
Currently, the US Space Surveillance Network monitors about 28 thousand pieces of space debris, but millions of smaller fragments are impossible to track. Explosions caused by residual fuel are a significant source of new debris, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
Future Trends and Kessler Syndrome
With the increase in launches, driven by the private sector, collisions tend to become the main cause of space debris generation in the future. Companies like SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, launch between 20 and 60 Starlink satellites weekly.
A piece of space debris travels at approximately 28,000 km/h. If it hits another satellite, it can trigger the Kessler syndrome, a cascade effect where collisions generate more debris, increasing the risk of further collisions. The ESA warns that, with current launch rates and projections of historical fragmentation, the number of debris will constantly grow, increasing the probability of catastrophic collisions.