Satellite population has seen an unprecedented surge
The rapid expansion of satellite networks in Earth’s orbit has sparked a new environmental concern, according to recent research.
Sierra Solter, a plasma physics PhD student at the University of Iceland, suggests that the burgeoning number of satellites required for internet megaconstellations could have unforeseen consequences on Earth’s magnetic field. She points out that the mass of deorbited satellite debris vastly exceeds the natural particulate matter in the magnetosphere. For instance, the remnants of a single second-generation Starlink satellite are seven million times heavier than the combined mass of particles in the Van Allen Belts.
Companies like SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb are launching a massive number of satellite constellations covering the length and breadth of the planet.
Historically, there have been more launches in the past year than in the first three decades.
This escalation is largely attributed to SpaceX’s Starlink project and similar initiatives by other entities aiming to provide global internet coverage. While these developments promise enhanced connectivity, they also raise significant environmental issues, including light pollution, potential collisions in low-Earth orbit, and ozone layer impacts.
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