Deorbit

Deorbiting is the process of lowering a satellite's orbit until the perigee dips into the dense atmosphere, causing drag to accelerate orbital decay and ultimately re-entry. For controlled deorbits of large objects (like the ISS, eventually), a targeted retrograde burn directs re-entry over uninhabited ocean areas (the "spacecraft cemetery" in the South Pacific). For smaller satellites, uncontrolled but accelerated deorbit through drag-enhancing devices (drag sails, drag augmentation) is increasingly used. The FCC's 5-year rule (effective 2024) requires all US-licensed LEO satellites to deorbit within 5 years of mission end.