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low Earth orbit satellites
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- 1Satellite Engine That Breathes Earth's Atmosphere Proposed▼New Satellite Engine Could Use Earth's Atmosphere to Stay in Orbit Indefinitely
Researchers have unveiled a concept for an air-breathing satellite engine that scoops up molecules of Earth's upper atmosphere and uses them as propellant, allowing spacecraft in very low orbit to refuel themselves and stay aloft indefinitely without carrying finite fuel. If proven, the design could enable long-lived Earth observation satellites and new very-low-orbit missions that today decay and burn up within months.
- 2Astronomer turns sinking Starlink satellites into planetary barometer●Astronomer watches Starlink satellites sinking to build a 'planetary barometer'
An astronomer is tracking how Starlink satellites gradually sink in their orbits and using that data as a 'planetary barometer' to measure conditions in Earth's upper atmosphere. The idea is that changes in satellite orbital decay reveal atmospheric density, offering a novel scientific use for the thousands of SpaceX satellites in low Earth orbit.