Overview
- An essay by astronomers and atmospheric scientists describes the atmosphere as a “crematorium” for satellites, warning that burn-ups seed it with alumina and other metals.
- A LiDAR study in Germany tied a Feb. 20, 2025 Falcon 9 reentry to roughly 30 kilograms of lithium—about ten times the typical daily input—providing direct, ground-based evidence of reentry pollution.
- Roughly 15,000 active satellites now orbit Earth, with SpaceX operating more than 9,000, and recent filings seek permission for up to one million additional satellites, underscoring the scale of proposed growth.
- New satellite generations are far heavier—Starlink V2 satellites weigh about 800 kilograms with later versions expected around 1,250 kilograms—raising the potential pollutant load when they burn up.
- Scientists urge global rules to define a safe atmospheric carrying capacity and expand monitoring, as projections warn of more fragments surviving reentry, rising casualty risk, and greater disruption to astronomy.