What must be considered when assessing the required effort to initiate a decaying orbit?
Answer
The required change in velocity, or Delta-v ($\Delta v$)
The necessary effort is quantified by Delta-v ($\Delta v$); transitioning to a decaying path requires only a small, precise reduction in velocity, much less than what is needed for a major orbit change.
#Videos
How Objects Stay in Orbit, or How Are Objects Always Falling ...
Related Questions
What maintains an orbiting object in perpetual falling motion without impact?What is the necessary condition for an object to begin falling out of its established orbit?What is the primary mechanism causing orbital decay for satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?How does the altitude of an object influence the strength of atmospheric drag it experiences?If an orbiting object gains speed significantly without altering its altitude radically, what orbital change results?What factor significantly dictates how quickly a large piece of debris will decelerate in the sparse upper atmosphere?What forces become the main source of orbital deviation for satellites in Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO)?What maneuver is used by engineers to intentionally bring an object down from orbit?What must be considered when assessing the required effort to initiate a decaying orbit?How do typical decay timescales differ between satellites in low LEO (300 km) and high GEO (35,786 km)?