Accelerated deorbiting of MEO satellites using low-thrust propulsion and resonant perturbations

In the medium Earth orbit (MEO) region, lunisolar secular resonances can lead to long-term eccentricity growth over timescales of centuries. To accelerate the orbital decay of end-of-life satellites, this study proposes a strategy that uses low-thrust maneuvers to relocate them into resonant zones where orbital lifetimes are significantly reduced. Lifetime distribution maps for GPS- and Galileo-like orbits, constructed on the (Ω,𝜔) plane using a double-averaged Hamiltonian model, reveal extensive regions where the orbital lifetimes are less than 100 years or between 100 and 200 years. These resonant zones are, therefore, optimal targets for end-of-life post-mission disposal (PMD). By combining low-thrust maneuvers with natural dynamical resonances, the proposed strategy enables a substantial reduction in lifetime with minimal fuel consumption, offering a cost-effective approach to satellite deorbiting. Theoretical feasibility is demonstrated through representative transfer scenarios, although further analysis is needed to assess its practical implementation under operational constraints.