[amsat-bb] Re: Since We Are Off Topic Somewhat....

While discussing this topic of orbital decay, I wonder if someone would comment on the apparent anomoly whereby a sat in leo that encounters drag actually speeds up (since as it's altitude decreases, the orbital speed increases), and how this might be a factor in the comparison of the heating effects on an object that decays gradually from orbit vs an object like the shuttle that is taken out of orbit by actually reducing it's speed with thrust. I have my own intuitive theories on this but would like to hear more informed opinions.