Thread

New Satellite Engine Could Use Earth's Atmosphere to Stay in Orbit Indefinitely

68 points · 15 comments · GordonS

while_true_ · 1790447978 · focus · HN ↗
The Earth's upper atmosphere is delicate. It's already being disturbed with rocket fuel residue and particulate space junk. Vacuuming up air and ionizing it risks putting the upper atmosphere even more out of balance.
1. rkagerer · 1790453331 · focus · HN ↗
  Could you elaborate on that?
  The article mentions "both positive and negative ions are pushed out of the thruster".
  Won't the ions eventually recombine?

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