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LightSail 2’s Average Altitude with Time and Solar Activity

LightSail 2’s Average Altitude with Time and Solar Activity
LightSail 2’s Average Altitude with Time and Solar Activity LightSail 2’s average altitude with time is shown in blue. The radio flux received on Earth at 10.7 cm wavelength (F10.7) is shown in orange with a moving average of five days shown in black. The F10.7 parameter is a good proxy for solar activity. Note the sharp drop-off in altitude as solar activity increased which caused increased atmospheric drag due to the heating and resulting expansion of the atmosphere. Also note the period of particularly good solar sailing causing altitude increase around August 2021. This plot shows data as of June 22, 2022. The Planetary Society