How long do satellites stay in space?

Answer 1

Very long.they just stay on , until it crashes with other space objects or until they are destroyed with anti -satellite missiles like the one china sent recently.

Answer 2

Also depends on the satellite function.
During the Cold War, spy satellites did not have the data storage capacity of today or the communications abilities. So the satellites were launched into low orbit and after completing their mission came back down several weeks later.
Some like the Hubble Telescope remain up for as long as there are servicing missions.
Most satellites can have a useful life span of years before cosmic rays deteriorate the CPUs.

Answer 3

By human standards 200 km up is already space but for a satellite there are enough air molecules that will eventually slow the satellite down and alter its orbit over time. So, the altitude is very important component for determining how long it will stay up there.

The moon is a natural satellite and well, I wouldn't worry about it ever coming down since it is a quarter of a million miles up so it will remain there ad infinitum!

Answer 4

It depends on how high they are. Satellites in low orbits experience some drag from the upper atmosphere and can spiral down in a few years as a result. In higher orbits, they can stay there basically forever.

Answer 5

After all that said there are also some that will never return to earth. They are traveling into deep space and until they hit something they will just keep going.