Prof. Sam Lawler6d ago

Any journalists want to write an article about all the environmental costs of the more than 10,000 Starlinks that are now in orbit? All I'm seeing are breathless articles mindlessly worshiping That Awful Billionaire for crossing the 10,000 satellite mark.

Every single one of those will come down in an uncontrolled reentry. That's a lot of metal in the atmosphere, and a lot of dice-rolling to see if any more pieces will make it to the ground.

SpaceX is truly awful.

Show threadDrew 🇵🇭 ♾️6d ago
@sundogplanets SpaceX - or rather #Starlink - is my lifeline, and the lifeline of many thousands of others living in a rural location with no proper broadband service. #Spacex may be "awful" but it has improved my quality of life immeasurably.
Show threadMichael Busch6d ago

@drewtowler

As @sundogplanets wrote: Satellite internet works fine with far fewer satellites in higher orbits.

Or more places could have fiber run out to local wireless towers.

Instead of giving still more money to Elon Musk's scam.

Show threadDrew 🇵🇭 ♾️6d ago
@michael_w_busch @sundogplanets OK, let me know when that becomes available in my location and I'll certainly consider it. I suspect we'll be waiting longer than my anticipated lifespan.
Show threadCoolBlenderKitten
@drewtowler @michael_w_busch @sundogplanets
Gee, just let the world go to hell, as long as you have good enough internet?
Mar 17 at 9:50pmWeb
Show threadDrew 🇵🇭 ♾️4d ago

@CoolBlenderKitten @michael_w_busch @sundogplanets Go back to Twitter.

EDIT: That was the glib answer. Here's the longer answer: We are all selfish about many, many things. You are too. Don't even try to deny it. This just happens to be one of mine. Deal with it. Or don't. Your opinion doesn't affect me.