Chuck Darwin<p>Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Systems Like Starlink Cause Environmental Harm Regulators Didn’t Prepare For</p><p>Last June scientists warned that low-Earth orbit ( <a href="https://c.im/tags/LEO" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LEO</span></a> ) satellites constantly burning up in orbit could release chemicals that could undermine the progress we’ve made repairing the <a href="https://c.im/tags/ozone" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ozone</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/layer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>layer</span></a>. </p><p>Researchers at USC noted that at peak, 1,005 U.S. tons of aluminum will fall to Earth, <br>releasing ♦️397 U.S. tons of aluminum oxides ♦️per year to the atmosphere, an <br>💥increase of 646% over natural levels. 💥</p><p>Numerous companies, most notably Elon Musk’s <a href="https://c.im/tags/Starlink" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Starlink</span></a> and Jeff Bezos’ <a href="https://c.im/tags/Blue" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Blue</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Origin" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Origin</span></a>, <br>are working on launching tens of thousands of small LEO satellites in the coming years. </p><p>A new report by U.S. PIRG adds to concerns that these launches haven’t been thought through environmentally, <br>noting that the disposable nature of such satellites means ♦️29 tons of satellites ♦️will re-enter our atmosphere every day at peak. </p><p>After years of delays, the FCC did recently release rules requiring that satellites be removed from orbit within five years to help minimize “space junk.” </p><p>But the organization notes that very little if any thought was given by innovation-cowed regulators toward the 🔸environmental impact of so many smaller satellites constantly burning up in orbit:🔸</p><p>“We shouldn’t rush into deploying an untested and under-researched technology into new environments without comprehensive review. </p><p>Over just five years Starlink has launched more than 6,000 units and now make up more than 60% of all satellites. </p><p>The new space race took off faster than governments were able to act.”</p><p>The steady launches are also a notable pollution concern, the report notes, <br>releasing ♦️“soot in the atmosphere equivalent to 7 million diesel dump trucks circling the globe, each year.” </p><p><a href="https://c.im/tags/SpaceX" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SpaceX</span></a> has consistently played fast and loose with <a href="https://c.im/tags/environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environmental</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/regulations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>regulations</span></a>, <br>with regulators even in lax Texas starting to give the company grief for releasing significant <a href="https://c.im/tags/pollutants" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>pollutants</span></a> into nearby bodies of water.</p><p><a href="https://www.techdirt.com/2024/08/16/report-low-earth-orbit-leo-satellite-systems-like-starlink-cause-environmental-harm-regulators-didnt-prepare-for/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">techdirt.com/2024/08/16/report</span><span class="invisible">-low-earth-orbit-leo-satellite-systems-like-starlink-cause-environmental-harm-regulators-didnt-prepare-for/</span></a></p>