The flume of mute fire another reminder, if we needed it, to recalibrate orbital decay daily.

NEWYORKER: Lostronaut

Dr Christy admits that orbital decay has an important effect on the data.

ECONOMIST: A heated controversy

Over time, however, satellites gradually lose altitude because of the drag exerted on them by the atmosphere (a phenomenon known as orbital decay).

ECONOMIST: A heated controversy | The

The answer seems to be that the satellite data corrected by Mr Wentz and Dr Schabel already contained an unintended element of correction for orbital decay.

ECONOMIST: A heated controversy