[kerkeslager]

It sounds like you're relying on the satellites de-orbiting and burning up in the atmosphere.

Are there any steps taken to ensure the satellites de-orbit in a timely manner? Are there any estimates on how many of the satellites will de-orbit and when, absent such an intervention?

[emagdnim2100]

Anything in LEO will de-orbit unless you actively keep it there, due to atmospheric drag. This is like watching someone drop a ball and asking if they are taking any steps to ensure it will fall.

[kerkeslager]

Obviously, but how long does that take, and is that long enough that collisions are negligibly probable?

It's possible that the problem will take care of itself, but the information provided is not adequate to model the problem and prove that the problem will take care of itself.

[panzagl]

It's a Bloomberg article, not an intro to astrodynamics. If you know the orbit you can figure out when it will decay relatively accurately.

[kerkeslager]

I'm not asking the Bloomberg article, I'm asking the person who works for the company who responded upthread.