CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A new MIT study suggests that greenhouse gas emissions are altering the space where satellites operate. Most satellites orbit in the thermosphere, a layer of Earth’s upper atmosphere. Naturally, this layer expands and contracts with the sun’s activity. But this new study reveals a more concerning trend. Despite their heat-trapping effect in the lower atmosphere, greenhouse gases have a cooling effect on the thermosphere, resulting in its shrinkage, Mrigakshi Dixit writes for Interesting Engineering. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
13 April 2025 -“The upper atmosphere is in a fragile state as climate change disrupts the status quo,” said William Parker, lead author and a graduate student in AeroAstro.
“At the same time, there’s been a massive increase in the number of satellites launched, especially for delivering broadband internet from space. If we don’t manage this activity carefully and work to reduce our emissions, space could become too crowded, leading to more collisions and debris,” Parker added.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
