Scientists map Earth's thermosphere using orbital data from 1,200 Starlink satellites
Researchers at Kyoto University turned publicly available trajectories of about 1,200 Starlink satellites into a two-dimensional map of thermospheric density near 482 km altitude.
A study by Kyoto University leveraged orbital information from roughly 1,200 Starlink satellites to estimate the density of the thermosphere at about 482 km above Earth. The researchers used the drag-induced changes in each satellite’s path as indirect measurements of the surrounding gas, then employed tomography—similar to medical imaging—to stitch these data into a comprehensive two-dimensional density map. This geographic view adds a horizontal dimension to earlier work that only tracked temporal changes.
Comparison with the European Space Agency’s Swarm satellite data showed strong agreement, validating the approach. Accurate thermospheric density data are crucial for predicting satellite trajectories and assessing collision risks as low-Earth-orbit traffic grows. The technique could eventually support near-real-time monitoring of atmospheric conditions, offering a new tool for space-weather research and spacecraft operations.
Why it matters
Better knowledge of upper-atmosphere density improves satellite navigation and collision avoidance in an increasingly crowded orbit.
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