[ntrz]

The article says "5 years after completing their mission", not 5 years after launch.

[hinkley]

Wait, really? What orbital mechanics take five years to achieve? Lunar assisted orbital insertion burns only take a year or two, right? Why wouldn’t the deorbit burn start the day after decommissioning?

[zardo]

If it takes 5 years, there is no deorbit burn.

[hahajk]

time to assign 25 year missions to satellites built to last 10 years!

[simonh]

Every mission has to pass FCC approval, and we're just discussing a super high level gloss of the rules. Thee's no way that would pass, so that's really not an issue.