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

@sundogplanets

That's a really nice article!

Incidentally, this morning I came across a writeup about the state of SpaceX in general. I used to grudgingly accept that they at least seem to know their rocketry.

Not so much it turns out.

https://www.planetearthandbeyond.co/p/starship-was-doomed-from-the-beginning

Starship Was Doomed From The Beginning

The fatal flaw SpaceX can't overcome.

Will Lockett's Newsletter
@DanielEriksson @sundogplanets Sounds to me like Musk needs to go up there and sort it out from within. Surely for such a certifiable genius, it wouldn't be difficult? It would make the world a better place.