Multiple forces continuously nudge satellites away from their designed orbits. Constellation operators fight these forces around the clock with station-keeping maneuvers — small, precise burns to hold geometry.
Multiple forces continuously nudge satellites away from their designed orbits. Constellation operators fight these forces around the clock with station-keeping maneuvers — small, precise burns to hold geometry.
Even the most carefully injected orbital plane will slowly deviate — because of Earth's shape.
Station-keeping consumes propellant. When fuel runs out, position can no longer be controlled.
The regular TLE updates you see for active constellations are direct evidence of station-keeping in action. Each update reflects a satellite that just fired its thrusters.