Mapping the upper atmosphere with public Starlink satellite data

Researchers have developed a new method to map the density of Earth's upper atmosphere using public orbital data from Starlink satellites, enabling two-dimensional visualization of the thermosphere at about 500 kilometers altitude. The Kyoto University team applied tomography, a medical imaging technique, to measure atmospheric drag on roughly 1,200 Starlink satellites at 482 kilometers, creating the first latitude-longitude snapshot of thermospheric density. Their results strongly agree with European Space Agency SWARM satellite observations. This work extends previous research that mapped density over time and altitude, and could help prevent satellite collisions by improving density forecasts. The method may eventually support near-real-time monitoring and safer space operations.