deorbit

[dee-awr-bit]

verb (used without object)

1. to depart deliberately from orbit, usually to enter a descent phase.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to deliberately depart from orbit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of deorbit¹

First recorded in 1960–65; de- + orbit

Example Sentences

The SpaceX’s satellites are designed to have a roughly five-year lifespan, after which Spacex will deorbit the satellites, let them burn up in Earth’s atmosphere and launch replacements.

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It will ultimately deorbit and disintegrate in Earth's atmosphere.

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The lander, also known as Mission 1, or M1, was meant to touch down in Atlas Crater in the Mare Frigoris region on the northern hemisphere of the moon’s near side about an hour after an initial deorbit maneuver.

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The impetus for the tug would be to deorbit the International Space Station when the time came for decommissioning, rather than trusting a Russian system for the task.

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Under the current rules, the United States requires satellites to deorbit — or burn up in Earth’s atmosphere — after 25 years.

Read more on Washington Post