Table 3. Orbit decay rate for circular and elliptical orbits

Satellite orbit	Semi-major axis decay rate
400 km Circular	∆a ~ 0.5 km/day
300 km Circular	∆a ~ 3.0 km/day
300 km × 1,500 km Elliptical	∆a ~ 0.4 km/day
200 km × 1,500 km Elliptical	∆a ~ 2.5 km/day
300 km × 8,500 km Elliptical	∆a ~ 0.1 km/day
200 km × 8,500 km Elliptical	∆a ~ 0.9 km/day