English Explanatory Dictionary

McDowell line

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The altitude of periapsis at which atmospheric drag will prevent an object from successfully orbiting.
noun
  1. Alternative form of McDowell line.

Word forms

McDowell line McDowell Limit

Etymology

(aerospace): From being proposed by astrophysicist Jonathan C. McDowell in 2018; when analyzing orbiting satellites to determine the perigee altitude at which one can successfully orbit 2 or more times on a highly elliptical orbit.

Related words

Armstrong line death zone mesopause
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