Dying satellites are moved to a 'Graveyard Orbit' to prevent space collisions.

The Graveyard Orbit, officially known as a supersynchronous orbit, is located approximately 186 to 224 miles (300 to 360 kilometers) above the Geostationary Orbit (GEO). GEO is a crowded strip of space 22,236 miles above the equator where satellites match Earth's rotation. Because this area is prime real estate for telecommunications, keeping it clear of defunct hardware is a global priority.The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) established the specific altitude requirements for these disposal orbits in 1997. Moving a satellite to this higher altitude requires significantly less velocity change, known as delta-v, than de-orbiting it to burn up in Earth's atmosphere. For a satellite at GEO, a de-orbit maneuver would require a massive amount of fuel that most satellites simply do not carry at the end of their lifespan.If two satellites collide in GEO, they can create thousands of pieces of high-speed shrapnel. This leads to the Kessler Syndrome, a theoretical scenario where the density of objects in Low Earth Orbit is high enough that collisions cause a cascade effect. By using the Graveyard Orbit, operators ensure that dead satellites remain stable for thousands of years without threatening active missions like GPS or weather monitoring.Before a satellite is officially retired, operators must perform a 'passivation' process. This involves venting remaining fuel and discharging batteries to ensure the satellite doesn't explode later due to internal pressure. This protocol is followed by major organizations like NASA and the European Space Agency to maintain long-term space sustainability.