SAT Question 70c19cf6: Transitions answer and explanation

English - Transitions - Contrast Transition
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One proposed boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space is the Kármán line, 100 km above sea level. Based on the work of physicist Theodore von Kármán, this line marks the theoretical height at which an aircraft no longer remains aloft using the force of lift. ______ an aircraft sustains flight past this altitude primarily by its velocity, reaching a speed sufficient to maintain an orbit but not to generate enough lift from the thin air.
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Difficulty:Hard
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?