Frédéric JacobsFeb 18, 2024

~100 more Starlink v1 satellites will be burning up in the upper atmosphere in the next 6 months, bringing up the total number of de-orbited Starlink satellites to ~500 out of 6000 launched
https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Commitment%20to%20Space%20Sustainability.pdf

De-orbiting satellites by burning them up did work when the volume of satellites was small, but already 10% of aerosol particules in the stratosphere contain aluminum/other metals.
The problem is only going to get worse with the launch of megaconstellations https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2313374120

Show threadFrédéric JacobsMar 14, 2024
Proposal: A global tax, where you pay per kilogram of junk you burn up in the stratosphere.
Show threadFrédéric JacobsMay 16, 2024

7 Starlink satellites burned up in the higher atmosphere yesterday.

Unlike what some are saying, these are satellites that were already planned to re-enter ahead of the solar storm and were launched in 2020/2021.

Show threadFrédéric Jacobs

#Starlink and other satellites burning up in the atmosphere has caused a lot of metal pollution.

A Japanese company offers satellites made out of Magnolia wood, which incinerate completely, with only water vapour and CO2 residues. An experimental satellite was handed over to JAXA for launch in November.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01456-z

World's first wooden satellite could herald era of greener space exploration

Japan’s satellite will test wood's resilience in space — wooden Moon shelters are also planned.

Jun 13, 2024 at 7:31amWeb
Show threadFrédéric JacobsNov 13, 2024

LignoSat has reached orbit!

More wood in satellites please.
https://www.dw.com/en/worlds-first-wooden-satellite-launched-into-space/a-70691359

World's first wooden satellite launched into space

Researchers from Japan believe that timber is a space-grade material that could on day be used to build houses on Mars. Their satellite was crafted from honoki wood without screws or glue to hold it together.

Deutsche Welle
Show threadFrédéric JacobsFeb 26, 2025
"We now have enough Starlink reentries to use the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis estimator to determine the median Starlink operational lifetime: 5.3 years. This mixes together V1 and V2M Starlinks."
@planet4589
Show threadFrédéric JacobsMay 4, 2025
"Falling satellites in 2022 produced about 17 tons of alumina, a 30% increase over natural levels. Fully realized “mega-constellations” of 550-pound satellites, which might be 30% aluminum, could add 360 tons a year, likely enough to harm the ozone layer.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-space-orbit-satellites-pollution/
Show threadFrédéric JacobsJul 3, 2025

“472 Starlinks were burned up in the atmosphere in Dec-May. Assuming each satellite is 800kg, and 50% aluminum by mass, that's 1 ton of aluminum PER DAY.

The natural infall rate of aluminum from meteoroids is 0.3 tons per day. Starlink has been ~3x that, for the last 6 months.”

https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/114789679793357277

Show thread☢️ Waschbär ☢️Jul 3, 2025

@fj

Ah well one more crisis, yay!
I was about to complain that climate change pending nuclear doom would be to easy to handle. Now getting literally burned to a crisp due to a lack of ozone on top now that's what O call synergy 👍

Show threadSteveJun 14, 2024

@fj Don't cars and tools and silverware... cause quite a bit more

Let's prioritize, k?
BTW for thousands of years (until 1900ish) streets were awash with horse shit and worse