Shocking information comes from a study suggesting that the dense activity of satellites could “disrupt the Earth’s magnetic field, exposing all life to lethal cosmic rays.”
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network plays a practical role by providing satellite internet access, primarily aimed at areas struggling with inadequate internet infrastructure. However, the negative aspects of these satellites are rarely mentioned.
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network will become even denser in the future. (Photo: Getty).
In a recent study, Dr. Sierra Solter-Hunt, a former NASA physicist, warns that the thousands of satellites from SpaceX could “disrupt the Earth’s magnetic field, exposing all life to lethal cosmic rays.”
The study is based on new estimates that SpaceX is burning more than 1.3 tons of internet satellite debris as these objects re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere every hour.
Typically, this is a fundamental process for rockets to achieve the necessary altitude before entering their operational orbits. It is also the process that marks the end of a rocket’s lifecycle or a satellite’s service when they complete their missions.
However, due to the extremely dense number of satellites, this activity creates a layer of metallic “conductive particles” in orbit, known as the process of metal dust accumulation.
These metal particles are significantly heavier than the mass of charged particles that protect the Earth from cosmic radiation. This causes them to become trapped in the Van Allen Radiation Belt at altitudes of 12,000 to 60,000 km, surrounding the entire surface of the Earth.
Dr. Sierra Solter-Hunt emphasizes: “I am surprised that there is very little scientific research on metal dust accumulation from the space industry. This could be a global issue.”
The new study estimates that SpaceX is currently burning over 1.3 tons of internet satellite debris in the Earth’s atmosphere every hour, creating a layer of metallic “conductive particles” in orbit. (Photo: Twitter).
According to astronomers’ estimates, by the end of March, there were about 5,504 Starlink satellites operational in Earth’s orbit, among a total of 5,442 satellites active.
Moreover, in the near future, tens of thousands of other satellites are also planned to be launched into orbit and become operational.
Dr. Sierra Solter-Hunt states that just the particles generated from the Starlink satellites in their final lifecycle stage are enough to distort the magnetic field, creating a “magnetic trap”, preventing the Earth’s atmosphere from escaping.
The serious concern is that such a layer of charged metal dust could lead to the loss of the atmosphere—similar to what has happened with Mars or Mercury.
“Currently, we have about 10,000 satellites in orbit. But in the next 10 to 15 years, that number could rise to 100,000,” warns Dr. Solter-Hunt. “By that time, I fear it might be too late.”
Dr. Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina, Canada, believes that this new research is a crucial first step in drawing public attention to the massive amounts of space dust accumulating in the Earth’s atmosphere.
According to Dr. Lawler, the consequences of this satellite pollution could be on a completely different scale than what we usually think.
Experts and astronomers are particularly concerned that space debris from satellite operations could permanently hinder ground-based observatories, stalling space research.
