Space Regulatory Glossary Orbital Mechanics

graveyard orbit

noun

1. A disposal orbit approximately 300 km above the geostationary arc (roughly 36,100 km altitude) where GEO satellites are boosted at end of life to avoid occupying valuable orbital slots and reduce collision risk with operational spacecraft.
2. Also called a supersynchronous disposal orbit or junk orbit. Moving to a graveyard orbit requires less fuel than deorbiting from GEO altitude, making it the standard post-mission disposal method for geostationary satellites. The practice is recommended by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC).

Read: The FCC 5-Year Deorbit Rule

Related terms

GEO Geostationary orbit. A circular equatorial orbit at approximately 35,786 km altitude where a satellite's orbital period… deorbit The deliberate removal of a spacecraft from its operational orbit, typically through controlled reentry into Earth's… orbital debris Non-functional human-made objects in Earth orbit, including defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragmentation… station-keeping The periodic use of onboard thrusters to maintain a satellite within its assigned orbital position, correcting for… IADC The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee. An international governmental forum of space agencies that…

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