Satellite re-entries have created dazzling artificial meteor showers in the Earth’s atmosphere. However, these events also carry an unseen environmental cost. The satellites’ burn-up releases aluminium oxide nanoparticles, which could harm the ozone layer for decades.
With over 8,000 Starlink satellites already launched and plans for 42,000 more, mega-constellations pose a significant atmospheric pollution risk. Each satellite contributes around 30 kg of aluminium oxide, amounting to six times natural levels annually by 2050.
Simulations suggest it may take 20-30 years for these particles to reach the stratosphere, potentially affecting future generations. There is currently no global law regulating atmospheric pollution from satellite re-entries, and companies like SpaceX and Amazon plan tens of thousands more satellites without a long-term disposal plan in place.
The European Space Agency’s “Zero Debris” initiative aims to prevent new orbital waste by 2030, but global cooperation is essential to mitigate the ongoing risks.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/starlink-killing-atmosphere-the-environmental-threat-to-earth-elon-musk-isnt-talking-about-214537-06-03-2025