Andrew GallagherFeb 26

“we estimate that a million satellites could mean that a teragram (one billion kgs) of alumina accumulates in the upper atmosphere – enough, alongside launch emissions, to significantly alter atmospheric chemistry and heating in dramatic ways we do not yet understand.

There is no public mandate for a single company in one country to make changes on that scale to the planet’s atmosphere.”
https://theconversation.com/a-new-space-race-could-turn-our-atmosphere-into-a-crematorium-for-satellites-276366

A new space race could turn our atmosphere into a ‘crematorium for satellites’

Planned ‘megaconstellations’ of satellites could cause unforeseen harm to the ozone layer and climate systems. Global regulation is needed before it’s too late.

The Conversation
Show threadchebraFeb 27
@andrewg excuse me but one billion kg of alumina from one million satellites can only be possible if one satellite contains 1000kg of alumina. That's clearly not the case
Show threadSavelyMar 4
@chebra @andrewg, well, afaik, (at least) Starlink satellites weigh somewhere from a few hundred kilograms for the earlier models to over a ton for the newer ones.
Show threadProf. Sam LawlerMar 9
@volemo @chebra @andrewg I co-authored this article. Starlink V2 satellites are 1250kg, and we assumed that "AI data center" satellites would have to be even larger and more complex. A conservative estimate of satellite composition is 50% aluminum. That's where 1000kg of aluminum per satellite comes from. Would be really nice if SpaceX would make these numbers and compositions public so we wouldn't have to make so many assumptions.
Show threadchebraMar 9

@sundogplanets And 100% of that remains in the upper atmosphere forever? Those are such big claims that it needs a bit more support, otherwise it's easily defeated by napkin math.

> Research shows that a typical Starlink satellite weighs around 250 kg and produces about 30 kg of aluminium oxide particles upon re-entry to the atmosphere.
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/elon-musk-starlink-satellites-are-falling-back-ozone-pollution-9867500/
Far from 50%

Show threadProf. Sam LawlerMar 9
@chebra Yeah, if you have a lot of funding and many months of time needed ot do these calculations, you are very welcome to criticize. Otherwise, this is all we scientists can do with no funding and 30 days notice from the FCC to comment to try to stop them from approving this.
Show threadchebraMar 9
@sundogplanets I can disprove by pointing out a logical conflict much easier than that.
Show threadDaveyMar 9

@chebra you haven't disproven shit though, you're just wanking at the bus stop

Edit: Haha, he blocked and reported me. Not the brave boy now.

Show threadchebra
@davey_cakes And you are... what? Just coming here to be vulgar?
Mar 9 at 11:03amWeb