Kyoto University scientists have developed a new tomographic technique to visualize thermospheric density using orbital data from Starlink satellites.
Key facts
- •The thermosphere accounts for over 99 percent of the upper atmosphere but is difficult to observe due to its neutral gas composition.
- •Researchers analyzed orbital data from approximately 1,200 Starlink satellites flying at an altitude of 482 kilometers.
- •The study produced a two-dimensional latitude-longitude snapshot of density at roughly 500 kilometers altitude.
- •Findings were validated against observations from the European Space Agency's SWARM satellites.
- •Improved density measurements are intended to help predict satellite motion and reduce collision risks in low Earth orbit.
Researchers at Kyoto University have created a method to measure the density of the thermosphere, the region of the upper atmosphere between 100 and 1,000 kilometers above Earth. By applying tomography to publicly available orbital data from approximately 1,200 Starlink satellites, the team produced a two-dimensional map of atmospheric density at an altitude of roughly 500 kilometers.
By the numbers
Measuring the Thermosphere
The thermosphere is composed of more than 99 percent electrically neutral gas, making it significantly harder to observe than the ionosphere, which consists of ionized gas that affects radio waves. Accurately measuring this density is critical for forecasting satellite motion and mitigating collision risks caused by atmospheric drag.
Tomography and Orbital Data
The research team utilized orbital decay information from Starlink satellites to estimate atmospheric drag. This approach represents the first tomographic analysis of its kind for this region. The resulting density patterns were found to be consistent with data from the European Space Agency's SWARM satellites, which track density changes along their specific orbital paths.
Advancing Space Safety
This work builds upon previous research that used Two-Line Element (TLE) data to track density changes over time and altitude. By adding a horizontal dimension, the new study reveals the geographic structure of the thermosphere. The researchers suggest this technique could eventually enable near-real-time monitoring, improving space weather forecasting and satellite operational safety.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
