SpaceX Deorbits 1-2 Starlink Satellites Daily Through Atmospheric Incineration
By
damethos
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Summary
SpaceX is deorbiting approximately one or two Starlink satellites daily through atmospheric incineration, a number expected to increase as the satellite constellation grows. Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell notes that while the environmental impact of this practice isn't fully understood, Starlink poses less space junk risk compared to other satellite operations. The article discusses concerns about the long-term effects of satellite reentry on Earth's atmosphere.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledSpaceX is deorbiting about one or two satellites daily, and that number is only going to grow.
What that means for our planet isn't entirely clear, says Harvard astrophysicist and space tracker Jonathan McDowell.
Even so, Starlink isn't the space junk risk that some other satellite operations are.
Kessler syndrome is bad; atmospheric incineration may be worse, says astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.
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