If we stopped sending stuff into space today, how long would it take for man-made Space Junk to stop orbiting the planet?

Question

If we stopped sending stuff into space today, how long would it take for man-made Space Junk to stop orbiting the planet?

In: 124

Answer 1

According to NASA, it depends on how high up the debris is.

“How long will orbital debris remain in Earth orbit?
The higher the altitude, the longer the orbital debris will typically remain in Earth orbit. Debris left in orbits below 600 km normally fall back to Earth within several years. At altitudes of 800 km, the time for orbital decay is often measured in centuries. Above 1,000 km, orbital debris will normally continue circling the Earth for a thousand years or more.”
[source](https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/faq/)