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So it's more expensive to design satellites that can de-orbit?

• mumblemumble 7y ago
  It depends on where they are. Take a look at the diagram on that Wikipedia page linked above - a geosynchronous orbit is very high; 50 or so times further out than the ISS, for example. And that's about as far out as we ever put satellites, so you've only got to boost it by a little bit to get out of the way of active space traffic.
• penagwin 7y ago
  From Geostationary Orbit yes, for other orbits it can be the opposite. Satellites in lower positions actually have to maintain their orbit due to orbital decay. Because Geostationary orbit is so far away, there's a lot less decay. For example SpaceX's starlink only has a lifespan of 5 years, and this is because of their low orbit.