air breathing satellite

An **air-breathing satellite** is a type of low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft concept that uses atmospheric gases (primarily oxygen and nitrogen) as propellant to maintain its orbit. Instead of carrying onboard oxidizer or propellant for station-keeping, it employs an air intake system to collect and compress residual atmospheric particles at very low altitudes—typically between 150 km and 250 km—where the atmosphere is still dense enough to provide usable material. This collected air is then used in an electric or plasma thruster to generate thrust that counteracts atmospheric drag, allowing for extended operation in orbits traditionally too low for conventional satellites.