Scientists turn Starlink into a giant scanner for Earth’s upper atmosphere
Researchers have found a clever new way to map a part of Earth’s upper atmosphere that is notoriously difficult to observe. Using orbital data from roughly 1,200 Starlink satellites, they reconstructed changes in atmospheric density about 500 kilometers above Earth. The approach could sharpen satellite tracking and help reduce the growing risk of collisions in increasingly crowded orbits.
Scientists have developed a novel method to visualize Earth's upper atmosphere using Starlink satellites, providing crucial insights into the region that is challenging to observe. The thermosphere, which constitutes about 99% of this upper atmosphere, is difficult to study due to its neutral gas composition. Accurate measurements of thermospheric density are vital for satellite motion forecasting and space engineering.
Kyoto University researchers, driven by the need for better data, combined orbital information from Starlink satellites with tomography—a technique typically used in medical imaging—to create a 2D map of thermospheric density at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers. This is the first such tomographic analysis of the thermosphere.
The density patterns observed corroborated data from the European Space Agency's SWARM satellites, validating the method's accuracy. This approach not only enhances understanding of the thermosphere's geographic structure but also offers practical benefits for satellite operations. By providing more precise atmospheric density data, the technique improves satellite motion predictions, mitigates collision risks, and supports near-real-time monitoring of atmospheric conditions.
Such advancements are crucial as the space around Earth becomes increasingly populated with satellites and debris.
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- Scientists Turn Starlink Into a Giant Scanner For Earth's Upper Atmosphere science.slashdot.org
