The new satellites are designed for an altitude of about 100 km: this is the region where the atmosphere ends and
Scientists have previously tried to develop prototypespropulsion systems for operation on an air gas mixture that can be obtained from the atmosphere. The systems are based on classic electric ion rocket engines, which, thanks to power from a nuclear power plant or from solar panels, create a jet thrust on an ionized gas.
Satellites, in turn, do not need a fuel supplyon board. They will fly for years, collecting gas from the rarefied atmosphere along their flight path. Simulations have shown that such structures can be assembled and launched.
Therefore, scientists are now creatingsystems for capturing rarefied gas and maintaining a given orbit when moving on such fuel. But there is a problem - shock waves - they propagate in front of a satellite flying at high speed and pose a problem both for the configuration of the intake and for the collection of gas.
Developers from China intend to solve this problem and assemble a demonstration satellite for flight without fuel in an orbit at an altitude of 180 km.
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