Study shows how rocket launches pollute the atmosphere https://arstechni.ca/3Taw #industrialwaste #spacepollution #syndication #spacex #Space
Study shows how rocket launches pollute the atmosphere

Is the global atmospheric commons destined to be an industrial waste dumping ground?

Ars Technica

More reasons to say "No!" to #SpaceX and #Starlink (and other unnecessary satellites!).

SpaceX rocket fireball linked to plume of polluting lithium

Georgina Rannard, Science reporter, February 19, 2025

Excerpts: "When a SpaceX rocket failure set the skies aflame over western Europe last February, no-one was sure if the debris was also polluting our #atmosphere.

"Now scientists are directly linking the uncontrolled rocket re-entry to a plume of #lithium measured less than 100km above Earth.

"It is the first time researchers have drawn a direct link between a known piece of #SpaceDebris crashing to Earth and #pollution levels.

They warn that as SpaceX chief #ElonMusk pledges to launch one million satellites in the coming years, this #contamination could be the tip of the iceberg."

[...]

"Earlier research has suggested that 10% of aerosols in the atmosphere are already contaminated by space debris.

"SpaceX has not responded to emailed requests from BBC News for comment. The researchers also sent their findings to the company but did not receive a response.

"Almost 30,000 pieces of debris are calculated to be free-floating in space, created when rockets break up in space or satellites disintegrate.

"Scientists warn that the debris is congesting space and threatens collision with rockets, the International Space Station, and our planet.

"Musk's SpaceX is the world's leading company for rocket launches including for sending humans into space and maintaining a network of 10,000 Starlink internet satellites.

"Musk recently announced he has applied to launch one million satellites to support #ArtificialIntelligence (#AI) data centres in space.

"Scientists warn that as humans move more activities off-Earth, more debris will fall to Earth, polluting as it plummets."

Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd8z4eqlxno

#LithiumPollution #AtmosphericPollution #NoAIInSpace #NoDatacentersInSpace #LEO #KesslerEffect #SpaceJunk #DarkSkies #LowerEarthOrbit #LEO #AIBullshitMachines #TechBros #xAI #Technopoly #SpacePollution
#AISucks #DataCenters #SkyNet #KesslerSyndrome #USPol #WorldPol #SpaceNews

SpaceX rocket fireball linked to plume of lithium

A SpaceX Falcon 9 crashed to Earth last year. Now scientists have measured the pollution it caused.

This #SpaceX Situation: Not Good!

by Jason Koebler, Feb 5, 2026

Excerpt: "There are many reasons that 'AI data centers in space' may be a pipe dream and may not happen, but what he is proposing is a magnitude of #SpaceJunk that no other company could plausibly promise to launch. Data centers or not, SpaceX is now dominating #LowEarthOrbit in a way no other company or country has. While Musk has been gutting the federal government, interfering in #elections, allowing people to generate #CSAM, engaging in white supremacy, planning trips to #EpsteinsIsland, implanting #chips into people’s brains, siphoning off taxpayer money to build ridiculous tunnels, giving his sperm to whoever will take it, turning his cars into experimental robot taxis, and pretending to build #HumanoidRobots, #SpaceX has somewhat (?) quietly #colonized and dominated low earth orbit.

"Musk has taken this space for his own use, concerns about #LightPollution, satellite collisions, and telecom #monopolies be damned. This has always been concerning, but explicitly intertwining the aspirations and fate of SpaceX with Musk’s CSAM generating social media website, his #AIBullshitMachines, and his right wing political project is horrifying and monopolistic. What happens next, I have no idea."

Read more:
https://www.404media.co/this-spacex-situation-not-good

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/vUubi

#TechBros #Technopoly #DarkSkies #SpacePollution #AISucks #DataCenters #SkyNet #KesslerEffect #KesslerSyndrome #USPol #WorldPol #SpaceNews #EpsteinFiles

This SpaceX Situation: Not Good!

Elon Musk's political projects are combining into a highly concerning megacompany.

404 Media

#SpaceX acquires #xAI, plans to launch a massive #SatelliteConstellation to power it

“This marks not just the next chapter, but the next book in SpaceX and xAI’s mission.”

Eric Berger – Feb 2, 2026

"SpaceX has formally acquired another one of Elon Musk’s companies, xAi, the space company announced on Monday afternoon.

“SpaceX has acquired xAI to form the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free speech platform,' the company said. 'This marks not just the next chapter, but the next book in SpaceX and xAI’s mission: scaling to make a sentient sun to understand the Universe and extend the light of consciousness to the stars!' [How much Special-K did you take, dude?]

"The merging of what is arguably Musk’s most successful company, SpaceX, with the more speculative xAI venture is a risk. Founded in 2023, xAI’s main products are the generative AI chatbot Grok and the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The company aims to compete with OpenAI and other artificial intelligence firms. However, Grok has been controversial, including the sexualization of women and children through AI-generated images, as has Musk’s management of Twitter."

Read more:
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/02/spacex-acquires-xai-plans-1-million-satellite-constellation-to-power-it/

#USPol #WorldPol #ElonSucks #SkyNet #AISucks #DarkSkies #SpacePollution #SatellitePollution #LowEarthOrbit #KesslerEffect #KesslerSyndrom

SpaceX acquires xAI, plans to launch a massive satellite constellation to power it

This marks not just the next chapter, but the next book in SpaceX and xAI's mission."

Ars Technica

#SpaceX gets #FCC approval to launch 7,500 more #Starlink #satellites😱

by Anthony Ha
Sat, January 10, 2026

Excerpt: "The Federal Communications Commission announced Friday that it has given SpaceX approval to launch another 7,500 of its second-generation Starlink satellites, for a total of 15,000 satellites worldwide.

"Beyond simply allowing SpaceX to launch more satellites and expand its high-speed internet coverage, the FCC says its decision also means Starlink satellites can operate across five frequencies to provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States, along with supplemental coverage in the U.S.

"Reuters reports that SpaceX had requested approval for an additional 15,000 satellites, but the FCC said it would 'defer authorization of the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites.'

"SpaceX must launch 50% of the approved Starlink satellites by December 1, 2028, and the remaining 50% by December 2031, the FCC says."

Read more:
https://tech.yahoo.com/science/articles/spacex-gets-fcc-approval-launch-221121996.html

#KesslerSyndrome #SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution

SpaceX gets FCC approval to launch 7,500 more Starlink satellites

Beyond simply allowing SpaceX to launch more satellites and expand its high-speed internet coverage, the FCC says its decision also means Starlink satellites...

Yahoo Tech

This will guarantee #KesslerSyndrome sooner than later!😱

As #SpaceX Works Toward 50K #Starlink Satellites, #China Eyes Deploying 200K

China's Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation submits filings for two constellations, each of which could support 96,714 satellites, for a total of 193,428.

Michael Kan, January 12, 2026

Excerpt: "To counter China, the FCC has been expediting and streamlining its satellite approvals. This includes clearing SpaceX to operate another 7,500 satellites for its second-generation constellation. The regulator has also approved plans to operate Starlink satellites at lower orbits, from 340km to 485km. Currently, Starlink has over 9,400 orbiting satellites."

Read more:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/as-spacex-works-toward-50k-starlink-satellites-china-eyes-deploying-200k?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=B

#SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution

Well, I think this is a hyperbole -- there will still be coax (axe/coax?) and fiber and good ol' landlines. Of course, #ElonMusk is trying to cut subsidies to those projects to divert money to #Starlink access!

#KesslerSyndrome: Space debris may create a future with no internet, TV, or mobile phone

By Quamrul Haider, 19 January 2025

Excerpt: "If, indeed, satellites collide or go offline because of overcrowded LEO, critical services like internet, navigation (GPS), weather forecasts, cell phones, television and other space-based technologies could fail. Needless to say, this will cause widespread disruption to modern life. Imagine life without social media!"

Read more:
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/kessler-syndrome-space-debris-may-create-future-no-internet-tv-or-mobile-phone-3802836

#KesslerEffect #Starlink #LEO #DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution

Kessler Syndrome: Space debris may create a future with no internet, TV, or mobile phone

The scenario in which space debris collides and creates more debris is called Kessler Syndrome, named after the NASA scientist Donald Kessler.

The Daily Star
Humans aren't just polluting the Earth, now we’re cluttering outer space too. Pretty sure we'd be fine without this many commercial satellites. Well done, humanity! #NASA #SpacePollution #Astronomy #Environment

Satellite boom is a 'growing t...
Satellite boom is a 'growing threat' to space telescopes: NASA study

Satellites reflect sunlight, Earthshine, infrared and radio waves.

ABC News
That generated image is so messed up. That's not how orbits work.
I also twitch every time a Star Trek vessel takes up a "geosynchronous orbit" over some arbitrary location on a planet.
#StarTrek #SpaceJunk
https://mas.to/@dmacphee/115418055122136038
dmacphee@mas.to - You have got to be kidding me.
No bloody way.  
#Canada #Space #SpacePollution #NightSky
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/reflect-orbital-space-mirror-9.6947427
Daniel MacPhee 🔬🧬🧫🇨🇦 (@dmacphee@mas.to)

You have got to be kidding me. No bloody way. #Canada #Space #SpacePollution #NightSky https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/reflect-orbital-space-mirror-9.6947427

mas.to