McDowell line

noun

The altitude of periapsis at which atmospheric drag will prevent an object from successfully orbiting.

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Meanings

McDowell line1

noun

alternative McDowell Line · alternative McDowell Limit · alternative McDowell limit

  1. space flightThe altitude of periapsis at which atmospheric drag will prevent an object from successfully orbiting.

McDowell Line2

noun
  1. alternativeAlternative form of McDowell line.

Origin

Proposed by astrophysicist Jonathan C. McDowell in 2018; when analyzing orbiting satellites to determine the perigee altitude at which one can successfully orbit twice or more on a highly elliptical orbit.

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Cite this entry
APA

McDowell line. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McDowell%20line

MLA

“McDowell line.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McDowell%20line. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “McDowell line,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McDowell%20line.

Source: McDowell line on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.