Ever wondered if those satellites dotting the night sky can actually fall back to Earth? Surprisingly, they can. Despite appearing permanent, satellites orbiting our planet can experience decay over time due to factors like atmospheric drag. This process can lead to their eventual re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, sometimes resulting in spectacular events. Explore how these man-made marvels can return to Earth’s surface, often burning up but occasionally leaving debris that makes landfall, prompting us to rethink our relationship with space above us.Can an artificial satellite fall on Earth?
Ever wondered if those satellites dotting the night sky can actually fall back to Earth? Surprisingly, they can. Despite appearing permanent, satellites orbiting our planet can experience decay over time due to factors like atmospheric drag. This process can lead to their eventual re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, sometimes resulting in spectacular events. Explore how these man-made marvels can return to Earth’s surface, often burning up but occasionally leaving debris that makes landfall, prompting us to rethink our relationship with space above us.