Technical
Orbital Lifetime
The time a spacecraft or debris remains in orbit before naturally decaying into the atmosphere.
Orbital lifetime is crucial for debris assessment and compliance planning.
Factors
- Altitude (primary)
- Area-to-mass ratio
- Solar activity (affects atmospheric density)
- Orbital shape
EU Space Act Requirement
- Maximum 5 years post-mission for LEO
- Shorter than IADC 25-year guideline