Hundreds of defunct satellites fall through the Earth’s atmosphere every year, and this number is skyrocketing.
The space race is intensifying with the massive launch of satellite “constellations” aimed at providing global broadband internet. However, this is leaving concerning consequences for the environment.
Hundreds of defunct satellites fall through the Earth’s atmosphere every year. (Image credit: Getty Images)
According to statistics, there are currently about 10,000 operational satellites in orbit, with two-thirds belonging to SpaceX’s Starlink. It is projected that by the 2030s, this number could reach up to 100,000 satellites.
The issue lies in the fact that these satellites are designed as “single-use” — after a few years of operation, they are deorbited and burn up in the atmosphere. Each satellite, upon disintegration, releases metals into the atmosphere.
Expert Daniel Murphy from the NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory stated: “The number of satellite launches is increasing rapidly. In the last two years, there have been about 500 re-entries per year, and this number could rise to 10,000 in the near future—equivalent to one re-entry every hour.”
Recent studies have detected traces of more than 20 different metal elements in the stratosphere, including niobium and hafnium—metals that are refined from ores to create heat-resistant alloys. The levels of metals such as aluminum and copper also exceed natural levels significantly.
More alarmingly, satellite debris could adversely affect the ozone layer. Aluminum oxide—the product of satellite combustion—is known to act as a catalyst in ozone depletion.
Scientists are urgently researching to fully assess the impact of this “space junk.” Expert José Ferreira from the University of Southern California suggested that environmental factors need to be integrated into the design phase of space missions.
“We need to understand these impacts clearly before continuing to launch more satellites,” emphasized Murphy.
