Here’s How NASA’s Ion Thrusters Keep Satellites Flying

Earth’s low orbit is filled with satellites — some new, some decades old. This has become an issue as orbit fills with space debris from broken or failed satellites, making removing them a challenge. These satellites face a never ending challenge: staying in orbit. Every satellite faces orbital decay, a small drag in orbit that causes the satellites to slow down over time. Eventually, this causes them to be destroyed as they crash through the atmosphere. To combat this, satellites

Read more