What happens to artificial satellites sent into the Earth’s orbit?

Question

A. They orbit the earth indefinitely until someone removes them.
B. They eventually leave orbit and fly into deep space.
C. They break apart over time and become tiny bits of metal, chips, and screws.
D. Their orbit decays and they burn up as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

D. Their orbit decays and they burn up as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

Artificial satellites, especially those in low Earth orbit, will eventually experience atmospheric drag that causes their orbits to decay. Over time, this drag can slow them down, bringing them closer to Earth until they re-enter the atmosphere. Most of them burn up upon re-entry due to the heat generated by the friction with the atmosphere. Some larger fragments may survive the re-entry, but this is generally a small percentage. Eventually, satellites are often designed to minimize space debris and ensure that they deorbit safely.