atmospheric drag
Orbital decay cause
Atmospheric drag is the resistance an object encounters when moving through a planet's atmosphere.
Air molecules collide with the object, slowing it and converting kinetic energy to heat.
Satellites in low Earth orbit gradually lose altitude due to atmospheric drag; spacecraft returning from orbit experience intense heating as drag decelerates them.
Also called air resistance or aerodynamic drag.
- air resistanceForce opposing atmospheric movement
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- windAir current outdoors
- space debrisArtificial objects orbiting Earth
thermosphere · orbital decay · ablation · burning up · buffeting · reentry · pressure · air density · compressibility · aerobraking · slowing · laminar flow · shock waves · friction · boundary layer · altitude · parachute · sky diving
atmospheric dragthrust
Forceful forward motion
propulsion · lift · boost · aerodynamic lift · acceleration