4 ms·
If their altitude is low enough to begin with, this atmospheric expansion can drag satellites all the way into reentry. https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-s
by perihelions 2y ago
If their altitude is low enough to begin with, this atmospheric expansion can drag satellites all the way into reentry.
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites-lost-geomagnetic-storm https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites-lost-geomag... ("SpaceX says a geomagnetic storm just doomed 40 Starlink internet satellites" (2022))
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30267587 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30267587 ("Starlink lost 40 satellites to a geomagnetic storm")
In the OP paper, the 486 km satellite (fig. 5) dropped down about 300 meters. The Starlink satellites that were lost were at 210 km. (For mass optimization, they're released at below operational altitude, and use slow, electric propulsion to get to their nominal orbits).
- sandworm101 2y ago>> mass optimization, they're released at below operational altitude Literally everything to do with spaceflight is connected to mass optimization. The more practical reason is to better separate the sats within the orbital plane. They sit in the lower/faster orbit until in position and the last in trail boosts into the higher/slower orbit. Put them all into the final orbit and they would all be bunched up. Put them too high and you are just wasting fuel springing them back down.