I had to find a couple of papers for one of my students to review and I just looked at all the new papers on satellite observations and predictions for satellite pollution and now I am super depressed.

What's currently playing out in Low Earth Orbit is the worst parts of capitalism, on fast-forward (literally at several km/s if you want to get technical...) It's so bad. Orbit needs strong, international regulation 20 years ago.

I just dug up a presentation from almost exactly 2 years ago and it says "almost 1,500 Starlinks in orbit" and that just makes me want to cry. Because today there are more than 4200. Including a batch launched yesterday. This is so stupid.

@sundogplanets Is 4,200 low-orbit satellites enough material - that’s already in space - to build a Death Star?

Asking for a friend.