Yes, satellites at geostationary orbit at the end of their life are put into a Graveyard orbit which is over 235 km above geostationary (exact height depends on aspect area to mass ratio of the satellite).
There is no decay due to atmospheric drag. No appreciable atmosphere there anyway - and if there was atmosphere then it would be in geostationary orbit around the Earth anyway.
Orbits decay less depending on height and on the solar weather, which heats up the thermosphere, and this changes density of the upper atmosphere.
Satellite Orbital Decay Calculations
You get significant decay at 500 km, the height of the Hubble space telescope.
How the Hubble Space Telescope Will Die
There's an online orbital decay calculator here to get an approximate idea for lifetime of a satellite at various heights - where you have to enter the average solar flux. These satellites orbit in the Thermosphere, and the density of the atmosphere depends on how much it is heated by the solar flux from the sun.
SATELLITE ORBITAL DECAY
Satellites in Medium Earth orbit from 2,000 km upwards to geostationary are hardly affected by atmospheric drag.
Telstar 1, launched in 1962 to an orbit with altitude varying from 5,933 kilometres down to 952 kilometres is still in orbit, and you can track it here
Real time satellite tracking for: TELSTAR 1
Still in orbit: Telstar, the 50-year-old satellite and genesis of telecommunications for the masses
There is no decay due to atmospheric drag. No appreciable atmosphere there anyway - and if there was atmosphere then it would be in geostationary orbit around the Earth anyway.
Orbits decay less depending on height and on the solar weather, which heats up the thermosphere, and this changes density of the upper atmosphere.
Satellite Orbital Decay Calculations
You get significant decay at 500 km, the height of the Hubble space telescope.
How the Hubble Space Telescope Will Die
There's an online orbital decay calculator here to get an approximate idea for lifetime of a satellite at various heights - where you have to enter the average solar flux. These satellites orbit in the Thermosphere, and the density of the atmosphere depends on how much it is heated by the solar flux from the sun.
SATELLITE ORBITAL DECAY
Satellites in Medium Earth orbit from 2,000 km upwards to geostationary are hardly affected by atmospheric drag.
Telstar 1, launched in 1962 to an orbit with altitude varying from 5,933 kilometres down to 952 kilometres is still in orbit, and you can track it here
Real time satellite tracking for: TELSTAR 1
Still in orbit: Telstar, the 50-year-old satellite and genesis of telecommunications for the masses
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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