Electric ionized air exhausted as VLEO satellite propellant

[evln]

https://astronomy.com/news/2021/04/future-satellites-could-breathe-air-to-stay-spaceborne

Future satellites could breathe air to stay spaceborne

April 30, 2021 ... Rocket engines that could refuel a satellite by scooping air from the atmosphere could solve several problems ... When a satellite reaches orbit, it still has to contend with Earth’s atmosphere. Even 200 miles (320 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface, stray air molecules abound. They slow a satellite down, stealing its momentum, and dragging it inexorably downward, to its doom ... air scoops come in ... an ASEP engine would use air molecules as propellant — and replenish its tank with a large scoop designed to collect them from its surroundings. From time to time, a craft in very low Earth orbit would turn on its solar-powered electric engine to stay aloft and avoid a fiery, meteoric death ...

https://astronomy.com/-/media/Images/News%20and%20Observing/News/2021/04/Airbreathing_space_mission.jpg

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https://astronomy.com/-/media/Images/News%20and%20Observing/News/2021/04/httpswww.esa.intESA_MultimediaImages201803Airbreathing_electric_propulsion.jpg

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