ABOUT GRAVEYARD ORBIT
A Graveyard Orbit (also called a disposal or junk orbit) is an orbit significantly above GEO where decommissioned satellites are moved at end of life. Typically 300 km above the geostationary belt, this orbit keeps defunct spacecraft from interfering with active GEO satellites. International guidelines recommend all GEO operators boost to graveyard orbit before decommissioning.
ORBITAL PARAMETERS
| Altitude (Min) | 36,086 km |
| Altitude (Max) | 36,386 km |
| Inclination | 0-15° |
| Orbital Period | 1448 minutes |
| Orbital Velocity | 3.07 km/s |
| Delta-V Required | 0.011 km/s |
| Eccentricity | 0-0.005 |
| Category | Disposal |
EQUATION / FORMULA
Δh ≈ 235 km + 1000 * Cr * A/m
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
Preserves valuable GEO orbital slots, prevents collision risk with active satellites, low delta-v to reach
DISADVANTAGES
Debris remains indefinitely, no active debris removal, growing population of dead satellites
HISTORY
| Discoverer / Pioneer | IADC guidelines (2002) |
| First Use | January 1, 1980 |
ALTITUDE CONVERSIONS (MIN)
| Kilometers | 36,086 km |
| Miles | 22,423 mi |
| Nautical Miles | 19,485 nmi |
TYPICAL PAYLOADS (1)
