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 threadBrokar

@andrewg That's what's currently up there.
Now imagine that China, India and Europe want a similar network of satellites like Starlink.

Sooner or later there will be more aluminum in space than on Earth and space travel will be made impossible because of all the satellites and debris. Think of the first scene in Wall-E when the camera zooms in on Earth.

Not even mentioning astronomers, who can't seem to get a clear picture anymore without having 20 satellites blocking the view.

Mar 9 at 1:25pmWeb
Show threadBrokarMar 9
@andrewg Also, sooner or later the majority of those satellites will come back to Earth, burning up on reentry. The metals are not so problematic, but the electronics and other chemicals from e.g. batteries, which then stay in the atmosphere for a long time, polluting the planet.