Why is it always orbs? Why not release pyramids, cubes or even dodecahedrons?
D3 consumed in generating plasma - used as an aerobrake, will appear to take on the shape of an orb.
Seen from above, it looks more like a candle flame or a malshaped Heresy’s Kiss - except it is plasma, of course.
See “Aerobrake plasmadynamics - Macroscopic effects”
AUthor Shebalin, John V.
Published by AIAA, Fluid Dynamics, Plasma Dynamics and Lasers Conference, 21st, Seattle, WA, June 18-20, 1990. 12 p.
there have been some awfully weird pyramid forms floating above places like Moscow - check out pyramid UFO’s on youtube