- Atmospheric Drag: Objects in low Earth orbit encounter atmospheric drag, which causes them to gradually lose velocity and altitude. Eventually, they re-enter the atmosphere and burn up.
- Solar Radiation Pressure: The pressure exerted by solar radiation can affect small debris, causing them to change their orbits or be pushed out of Earth's gravitational influence.
- Collisions: Collisions between space debris can result in fragmentation, creating smaller pieces of debris that may eventually degrade.
- Gravitational Perturbations: The gravitational influence of celestial bodies like the moon and sun can alter the orbits of space debris, leading to their eventual decay.
However, this natural breakdown process can be slow, and some space debris can persist in orbit for decades or even centuries, posing risks to active satellites and future space missions.
