The key advantage of Cold-Atom Interferometry (CAI) accelerometers and gravity gradiometers over their classical counterparts is their ability to measure with high accuracy even at low frequencies, i.e., their noise spectral density does not increase toward lower frequencies. Scientists have been seeking to exploit this advantage for gravity field retrieval and observing thermosphere mass density with varying success. In the case of observing thermosphere density, CAI accelerometers could provide bias-free measurements of the non-gravitational acceleration of the satellites, from which thermosphere density can be derived. For gravity field retrieval, CAI instruments can serve either as accelerometers to measure the non-gravitational acceleration of the satellites or as gravity gradiometers to observe the gravity field directly. A relatively unexplored use case is measuring Earth’s outgoing radiation over long periods to quantify the Earth’s energy imbalance. In this presentation, we will analyse these selected use cases. For each use case, we will reflect on the potential mission objectives and clarify how the principal observables are obtained from instruments’ measurements to highlight the role that CAI could play. Extensive experience from past missions will guide this discussion and help to identify the challenges that must be overcome to reach the mission objectives. That will naturally lead to those elements that require further study before the usefulness of CAI technology can be assessed.