Starlink’s satellite internet has been an incredible blessing to rural areas on the wrong side of the digital gorge. It may also spell disaster for the ozone layer of the earth, according to a new study funded by NASA and published in geophysical research letters.
When Starlink’s satellites reach the end of their lives, they burn up into the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving small particles of aluminum oxide. These run down into the ozone layer that absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation. Researchers from the University of Southern California found that these oxides have increased eight times from 2016 to 2022.
Not all of these are from Starlink – the ISP did not launch its first satellites until May 2019 – but it currently has the largest fleet far. Of the approx. 8,100 Low Land Course items are more than 6,000 Starlinks. The company is currently allowed to launch another 12,000 satellites and has as many as 42,000 planned in the future, according to Space.com.
These satellites are designed to last about five years. A satellite of 550 pounds releases approx. 66 pounds of aluminum oxide nanoparticles under Reentry. Starlink’s satellites have become heavier over time, with the latest version weighing in about £ 2,760.
The aluminum is mostly released between 30 and 50 miles above the soil surface, but will then run down to the ozone layer, which would take approx. 30 years. We already see these effects – satellites burning up in 2022, caused an increase of 29.5% of aluminum in the atmosphere above the natural level – but the researchers said it will only get worse.
“This is primarily a problem for the large number of satellites to be launched in the future,” Joseph Wang, one of the study’s authors, told CNET. “We projected an annual profit of more than 640% above the natural level. Based on this projection we are very concerned. ”
Unlike other substances that deplet the ozone, aluminum oxide particles are not consumed in the process, the researchers said. They continue to damage the ozone layer until they naturally fall to lower heights, which could take about 30 years.
If Starlink scales up, as it hopes, more than 8,000 satellites could burn up in the atmosphere every year. The researchers used a forecast model to explain the growing number of satellites in the sky and found that the amount of aluminum could grow to 360 tons – or 640% above natural levels.
Starlink has led exponential growth of satellites in the sky
What is perhaps most alarming about this new research is how much is still unprotected territory. “The environmental impacts of the satellites are currently poorly understood,” the study states.
In the four years that Starlink has launched satellites, it accounts for 40% of all satellites ever Launched and it plans to increase its fleet seven times. Starlink’s biggest competitor, Amazon’s project Kuiper, also plans to launch 3,232 satellites In the coming years.
An article published in nature decided that 100,000 satellites in the sky “is not only possible but very likely.” This is due to almost exclusively private companies such as SpaceX, Amazon and OneWeb launching satellites to provide high -speed internet.
According to EPA, excessive UV radiation can lead to skin cancer, cataracts and weakened immune system as well as reduced crop yields and disturbances in the marine food chain.
“As the reentry rates rise, it is important to examine the concerns that are highlighted in this study,” researchers say.
Starlink did not respond to CNET’s request for comment.