Tag

Thermosphere

All articles tagged with #thermosphere

space15 days ago•6 min saved

SpaceWeather.com Turns 11,000 Starlink Satellites Into a Daily Atmospheric Barometer

SpaceWeather.com has developed a daily 'Satellite Drag' index that uses public tracking data from over 11,000 Starlink satellites to measure Earth's upper atmospheric density. By analyzing the B-star drag terms in orbital elements, the index quantifies how much air density has changed relative to quiet days, providing a real-time barometer for space weather. The method is validated against independent constellations, including Planet Labs Doves and Amazon Kuiper, showing a 94% correlation with Starlink data. In 2026, the sink rate at 480 km ranged from 19.7 meters per day in August to 127.6 meters per day during a January geomagnetic storm. This daily metric helps calibrate orbit prediction models, which currently suffer from 20-30% errors in density estimates, and offers a new tool for collision avoidance as low Earth orbit becomes increasingly crowded.

via SpaceWeather.com|

#orbital-mechanics #space #space-weather

science1 month ago•15 min saved

Starlink satellites become a giant scanner of Earth's upper atmosphere

Researchers used publicly available orbital data from about 1,200 Starlink satellites at roughly 482 km altitude to estimate thermospheric density through atmospheric drag. Applying tomography across the satellite constellation produced a two-dimensional map of density variations by geography, which closely matches observations from ESA’s Swarm satellites. The approach could improve models of satellite motion and collision risk as low-Earth orbit gets busier, and hints at near-real-time atmospheric monitoring using commercial spacecraft data in the future.

via The Times of India|

#satellites #science #space

science1 month ago•8 min saved

Starlink Data Reveals New Window into Earth's Thermosphere

Public Starlink ephemeris data enables tomographic mapping of the thermosphere; researchers have used it to estimate atmospheric density at high altitudes, with results aligning with dedicated satellites like SWARM-B, suggesting this LEO constellation could become a major resource for upper-atmosphere science.

via Hackaday|

#atmosphere #remote-sensing #science

space5 months ago•5 min saved

Solar Activity Quickens Space Debris Decay in Low Earth Orbit

A 36-year study of 17 debris objects in low Earth orbit shows that when solar activity rises to a certain level, heating of the thermosphere expands the atmosphere and increases drag, causing debris to lose altitude faster. The researchers identify a transition threshold near two-thirds of solar maximum and note stronger extreme ultraviolet emissions around solar peaks, with practical implications for satellite operators who may need more frequent orbit corrections and greater fuel reserves during active solar phases.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#low-earth-orbit #orbital-decay #solar-activity

science1 year ago•5 min saved

Scientists Uncover the Mystery Behind Uranus' Cooling

Uranus' upper atmosphere is cooling, a phenomenon not observed in other planets, and new research attributes this to the solar wind rather than solar photons. The solar wind's decreasing pressure allows Uranus' magnetosphere to expand, reducing the solar wind's heating effect on the thermosphere. This discovery, published in Geophysical Review Letters, could influence future missions to Uranus and has implications for understanding exoplanet atmospheres, suggesting that stellar wind, rather than radiation, may govern their thermal evolution.

via ScienceAlert|

#magnetosphere #planetary-science #science

science-and-technology3 years ago•1 min saved

NASA warns of satellite peril from solar storms.

Intense solar storms have caused a significant increase in the temperature of the Earth's thermosphere, the second-highest layer of the atmosphere, according to NASA. This temperature spike poses challenges for satellites in low-Earth orbit, as the expanding and warming thermosphere increases aerodynamic drag on spacecraft, potentially leading to collisions or orbital instability. While the thermosphere's temperature is expected to continue rising in the coming years due to heightened solar activity, long-term trends suggest a decline due to the effects of climate change.

via HT Tech|

#climate-change #nasa #satellites

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Record-breaking solar storms intensify space weather, putting Earth and satellites in danger.

Solar storms are causing Earth's thermosphere to experience a significant temperature increase, the highest it's been in two decades, and this warming trend may continue over the next few years as the sun's activity intensifies. This could have potentially negative implications for Earth-orbiting satellites, as the thermosphere expands as it warms, resulting in increased aerodynamic drag on all satellites and on space debris. Developing strategies to predict space weather more accurately and implementing contingency plans for satellite repositioning is essential for safeguarding valuable space assets.

via Giant Freakin Robot|

#earths-temperature #satellites #science

science3 years ago•4 min saved

Solar Storms Heat Up Earth's Thermosphere to 20-Year High

Earth's thermosphere reached its highest temperature in nearly 20 years due to energy from geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity. The temperature in the thermosphere is expected to continue to rise over the next few years as the sun's activity increases, which could impact Earth-orbiting satellites. Changes to the thermosphere can pose challenges for satellites in low-Earth orbit, as increased aerodynamic drag can pull satellites closer to Earth, causing them to crash into one another or fall out of orbit.

via Livescience.com|

#geomagnetic-storms #satellites #science

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Solar Storms Heat Up Earth's Thermosphere to 20-Year High

Earth's thermosphere, the second-highest layer of the atmosphere, recently hit a near 20-year temperature peak due to energy from geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity. The temperature is expected to continue to climb over the next few years, which could impact Earth-orbiting satellites. Changes to the thermosphere can pose challenges for satellites in low-Earth orbit that are positioned around the thermosphere's upper boundary. The unpredictability of space weather makes it hard to know when these manoeuvres are required until it is often too late.

via Yahoo Life|

#geomagnetic-storms #satellites #science

science3 years ago•3 min saved

"Space Satellite Observes Carbon Dioxide Aurora"

Scientists have used satellite measurements to observe aurora associated with carbon dioxide in Earth's thermosphere. Carbon dioxide becomes vibrationally excited during an aurora, emitting more infrared radiation than typically observed in the atmosphere. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, which gathers infrared energy emitted from Earth's surface and atmosphere globally, was used to observe elevated infrared signals from carbon dioxide during an aurora. This dataset and analysis method provides the first daily global observations over regions of the northern and southern hemispheres using a nadir-viewing satellite instrument.

via Phys.org|

#atmospheric-infrared-sounder #aurora #carbon-dioxide

tech3 years ago•1 min saved

Solar Storms Threaten Satellites and Power Grids

Solar storms in 2023 have caused the thermosphere to shift upwards and heat up, increasing the risk for satellites in low Earth orbit. The heated-up air will be more prone to drag and can push around the satellites, resulting in collisions and damage to instruments. NASA's TIMED satellite has recorded the thermosphere to be at a 20-year high. With the peak of the Solar Cycle approaching, more solar storms are expected, which can further worsen the condition for Earth's low-orbit satellites.

via HT Tech|

#nasa #satellites #solar-storms