Scientists have predicted a fall in the number of satellites that can sustainably operate in low-Earth orbit (LEO), because of the impact of climate change on the atmosphere.
According to a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), greenhouse gas emissions are causing the upper atmosphere, known as the thermosphere, to shrink, which changes the way bodies orbit around the Earth.
Satellites in LEO reduce the latency effect associated with those operating in a much higher orbit. This is particularly beneficial to the growing satellite constellations that aim to give total broadband internet coverage around the world, such as services from Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. There are already over 10,000 satellites operating in LEO.
When the thermosphere contracts, its decreasing density reduces atmospheric drag – a force that pulls old satellites and other debris down to altitudes where they will encounter air molecules and burn up.
This reduced drag therefore extends...