Graveyard orbit
A disposal orbit for end-of-life satellites to reduce debris.
Last updated
cmglee · CC BY-SA 3.0
The transfer requires only about 11 m/s of delta-v, compared to roughly 1500 m/s for de-orbiting.[1] When the velocity change needed for a full de-orbit is too large, a graveyard orbit serves as a disposal orbit.[1]
Last updated 2026-09-28 from the source article.
Quick Facts
- Alternative names
- junk orbit, disposal orbit
- Primary location
- supersynchronous orbit beyond geosynchronous orbit
- Regulatory body
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Through 2005, only about one-third of satellite operators successfully performed this end-of-life maneuver.[2] Since March 18, 2002, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission requires all geostationary satellites launched after that date to commit to moving to a graveyard orbit.[3]
What the cited sources add
The 1997 patent by Saccoccia, Paganucci, and Scortecci describes using remaining helium pressurant to fire arcjet thrusters for a complete re-orbiting maneuver.[4] A 2017 Ars Technica article notes that traditional geosynchronous graveyard orbits have expected lifetimes of millions of years.[5] SpaceX and OneWeb both committed to the FCC that decommissioned satellites will reenter and burn up within one year of end-of-life.[5] The Ars Technica article reports that over 1,400 operational satellites were in orbit among more than 4,000 total objects in 2017.[6]
Two major satellite collisions in the prior decade dramatically increased fragmented debris.[6] International standards call for satellites to be removed from orbit within 25 years after their end-of-life date.[6]
References
- Wikipedia, "Graveyard orbit" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Method for re-orbiting a dual-mode propulsion geostationary spacecraft – Patent # 5651515 – PatentGenius" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Graveyard orbit" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "ESA – Space debris mitigation: the case for a code of conduct", www.esa.int; Jehn, "End-of-Life Disposal of Geostationary Satellites", Proceedings of the 4th European Conference on Space Debris (ESA SP-587), 20 April 2005, p. 373; Johnson, "Broadcast 1666 (Special Edition) – Topic: Space debris issues", The Space Show, 2011-12-05 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Graveyard orbit" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "FCC Enters Orbital Debris Debate", Space.com; "US Government Orbital Debris Standard Practices"; Shepardson, "DISH gets first-ever space debris fine over EchoStar-7", Reuters, 2 October 2023 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Method for re-orbiting a dual-mode propulsion geostationary spacecraft – Patent # 5651515 – PatentGenius". facts only, no text reused. patentgenius.com
- Wikipedia, "Graveyard orbit" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brodkin, "SpaceX and OneWeb broadband satellites raise fears about space debris", Ars Technica, 4 October 2017 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Brodkin, "SpaceX and OneWeb broadband satellites raise fears about space debris", Ars Technica, 4 October 2017. facts only, no text reused. arstechnica.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Graveyard orbit (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Orbits And Celestial Mechanics
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Graveyard orbit (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced