Why do satellites launched into low-Earth orbits not remain there indefinitely?
A) they do not have enough speed to fall freely around the Earth
B) they tend to collide with other spacecraft and spacecraft fragments
C) they lose speed due to friction with the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere
D) they run out of fuel, and without fuel, all satellites, no matter what their orbit is, must fall
E) this is an unsolved problem, but a NASA committee has been assigned to work on it

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Satellites in low-Earth orbits experience friction with the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere, which eventually slows them down and causes them to fall towards the Earth. This is why most satellites in low-Earth orbits have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced or reboosted regularly.

Why Do Satellites Launched into Low-Earth Orbits Not Remain There