Clearly you would not choose similar operational parameters and propulsion as the ISS when designing an atmospheric scooper. Not sure why you would assume so,

Clearly you would not choose similar operational parameters and propulsion as the ISS when designing an atmospheric scooper. Not sure why you would assume so, honestly. There have been proposals to use scoopers with structurally integrated electrodynamic propulsion ("tether without the tether"),[0] which would use zero propellant. [0] https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44542.msg1818140#msg1818140 https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44542.msg1...