Prof. Sam LawlerMay 30, 2025

Oh hey cool, an op-ed I wrote is now published!

TLDR: we need *fewer* satellites, each with *longer* operational lifetimes. Engineers: that's your challenge.

https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/what-goes-up-must-come-down-how-megaconstellations-like-spacexs-starlink-network-pose-a-grave-safety-threat-to-us-on-earth-opinion

What goes up must come down: How megaconstellations like SpaceX's Starlink network pose a grave safety threat to us on Earth

Thousands of satellites with incredibly short lifetimes are being sent up into low Earth orbit. When they fall back down they're fireballs of pollution — and what doesn't burn up hits the ground.

Live Science
Show threadKevin RussellMay 30, 2025

@sundogplanets

Higher needed too. Tax low orbit satellites a lot. UN money.

Show threadMichael GemarMay 30, 2025
@kevinrns @sundogplanets Low orbits decay naturally. Higher orbits mean when a satellite stops working, it just sits there as a collision hazard.
Show threadKevin RussellMay 30, 2025

@michaelgemar @sundogplanets

Degrading low orbit satellites are changing the chemical make up of the upper atmosphere.

Life is possible, for example, because of the ozone layer, cutting damaging radiation. But the Ozone layer is just oxygen molecules far apart, and peaks at 8 to 15 parts per million.

https://www.space.com/starlink-satellite-reentry-ozone-depletion-atmosphere

Air pollution from reentering megaconstellation satellites could cause ozone hole 2.0

When defunct satellites burn in the atmosphere, they leave behind chemicals that could damage the ozone layer and affect how much light Earth absorbs.

Space
Show threadMichael GemarMay 30, 2025
@kevinrns @sundogplanets Right, but that’s just an argument for long-lived and durable satellites in LEO, and not to put them in orbits where they’ll remain to collide with stuff if things go wrong. (Although if we ever get usable tugs/servicing vehicles that could deal with dead satellites, that would change the equation.)
Show threadKevin Russell

@michaelgemar @sundogplanets

I am MUCH more concerned with the atmosphere than lost satellites, crashes or missing services.

And no, its not just an argument for more low earth orbits, its a call to everyone to notice the people responsible for space are mostly jackasses now, putting us in danger in increasing numbers of ways.

Responsible, not interested in, or working in, and the "not jackasses" are being fired.

May 30, 2025 at 11:10pmWeb