{
  "id": 9785308,
  "title": "Starlink satellites are becoming a barometer for Earth’s atmosphere",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/starlink-satellites-are-becoming-a-barometer-for-earths-atmosphere",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-25T15:25:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mashable",
    "slug": "mashable",
    "url": "https://mashable.com/science/starlink-satellites-planetary-barometer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Starlink satellites, initially viewed solely for their impact on the sky, have found a new purpose in helping scientists monitor Earth's upper atmosphere. Astronomer Tony Phillips from SpaceWeather.com devised a method to use the orbital data of numerous Starlink satellites to create a daily measure of changes in the planet's atmosphere. This method, dubbed a \"planetary barometer,\" tracks air density instead of pressure. The core of Phillips' observation lies in the concept that even at high altitudes, the atmosphere exerts enough drag to slow down satellites. By analyzing publicly available orbital records, Phillips estimates the effect of drag on a typical Starlink satellite, which is positioned around 480 kilometers above Earth. The daily \"sink rate\" calculated by Phillips indicates how many meters a satellite would lose in altitude in a day without its thrusters engaged. Over the course of 2026, this figure has varied from 19.7 meters on calm days to 127.6 meters during a significant geomagnetic storm.\n\nPhillips uses Starlink satellites, alongside those from Planet Labs, Amazon's Kuiper network, and Eutelsat OneWeb, to ensure the accuracy of his measurements. Planet's SuperDoves, in particular, are valuable as they don't have any thrusters, allowing for a direct comparison with the Starlink estimates. However, the method does have its limitations, such as the potential for orbital data to obscure sudden changes over several days. Despite these limitations, Phillips' contribution is a publicly accessible daily index that provides a snapshot of atmospheric conditions affecting satellite orbits. The dense presence of Starlink satellites above Earth, while a concern for astronomers, surprisingly offers a unique opportunity to observe atmospheric changes without the need for additional launches.",
  "summary": "An astronomer is using Starlink and other satellites to track changes in Earth’s upper atmosphere with a daily satellite drag index.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}