GoKawiilUniversity of Stuttgart PhD tests engine that turns atmosphere into satellite fuel
Francesco Romano, a PhD researcher at the University of Stuttgart, has designed a plasma engine that ingests thin atmospheric gases at very low Earth orbit altitudes and converts them into thrust, detailed in a paper posted to arXiv. The concept, known as atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion, aims to let satellites stay in orbit without carrying conventional propellant such as xenon. So far the design has only been tested in laboratory conditions and simulations, not on an actual spacecraft.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If it works in orbit, such an engine could let satellites operate at lower altitudes indefinitely, improving imaging and communications while reducing launch mass devoted to fuel. Engineering hurdles remain, including atomic oxygen's tendency to corrode engine components, meaning the technology's real-world viability is still unproven according to the research itself.
- The engine uses atmospheric gas instead of onboard propellant like xenon
- Low orbits below 450 km offer sharper imaging but require constant thrust to counter drag
- The design has only been validated in labs and models, not in an actual satellite mission
Source: scitechdaily.com, 2026-09-26
Published there as: “New Satellite Engine Could Use Earth's Atmosphere to Stay in Orbit Indefinitely”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.