A few weeks ago, over a hundred SpaceX Starlink Satellites re-entered the earth’s atmosphere, burning up on entry and releasing metallic vapours while they disintegrated. Starlink currently has nearly 7,000 satellites in operation, along with plans to refresh the network every 5 years. The satellites that burned up most recently were some of the program’s earliest, with their 5-year period having come to an end.
With the amount of re-entries steadily on the rise, significant concern is being raised amongst scientists and environmentalists regarding possible atmospheric pollution. Just roughly two years ago, satellite debris was found in aerosols, tiny particles of liquid or solid, 60,000 feet above Alaska. Over the past decade, these oxides have increased dramatically and scientists worry about the damage they pose to the ozone. One study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, found that a 550-pound satellite releases about 66 pounds of aluminum oxide nanoparticles during reentry. The newer generation of larger Starlink satellites weigh 1,000 to 3,000 pounds.
Initially, SpaceX claimed that their satellites leave no debris behind, insisting that they fully burn up with no remnants. Now, the company recently admitted that retired Starlink satellites actually might not fully disintegrate upon re-entry. It is possible that residuum may be left behind and even land on the ground. However, Starlink insists that this debris poses no significant harm or danger. The chance of the company’s newest Starlink satellites causing human harm has been rated at “less than 1 in 100 million, significantly more conservative than the current industry standard.” And in response to concerns about disposals landing on earth, SpaceX stated that it always tries to land satellites over the open ocean, away from populated islands and airlines and marine routes.
Of course, although rare, we have seen instances of debris falling back to the ground. In fact, in Canada, a 2.5 kg piece of aluminum was found in Saskatchewan. The aluminum came from an enclosure lid from a Starlink direct-to-cell satellite. The company speculates that the part’s survival was due to the satellite failing to properly de-orbit. Launched last summer, it was from a batch of satellites that fell back to Earth because of malfunctions. However, Starlink has given reassurance that they used this event to improve satellite design.
Now, while the amount of debris released may be low, it is important to keep in mind that it will compound over time – especially since the company has stated that they are looking to expand the program.
In a paper published in May 2021, Aaron Boley said that the satellites will produce alumina, or aluminum oxide, during burn-up because of their material composition. He warned that alumina can cause ozone depletion and also alter the atmosphere’s ability to reflect heat. He goes on to state that if you dump enough alumina into the atmosphere, “you are going to create scattering and eventually change the albedo of the planet…That could lead to an out-of-control geoengineering experiment, a change in the Earth’s climate balance. The effects of such alternations are currently unknown”.
However, benefits to using the satellites are still present. For example, they offer significant aid in emergencies. In Ukraine, officials requested Starlink satellites right after the Russian invasion began. The terminals were the first to arrive in the country, just six days after the request. Since then, SpaceX has provided more than 25,000 satellites, with the network being vital for Ukrainian communication throughout the conflict. Another example is the island nation of Tonga. After suffering a massive volcano eruption and tsunami, 50 starlink terminals were sent in February of 2022, restoring communication during critical power shortages.
In addition to aiding communication efforts, Starlink satellites also foster greater internet access. Numerous factors make Starlink ideal for more rural communities. The network can provide reliable internet access since it’s unaffected by ground conditions, it is very high speed, and has been designed with the very purpose of being global. Overall, it is relatively user-friendly to install, and has no data caps
Being cheap, reliable, and increasingly accessible, Starlink holds the potential to aid the economic development of less-developed nations, as well as provide crucial communication infrastructure in urgent situations. On the flip side, the environmental effects of the technology are still questionable. Nonetheless, Starlink is certainly set to play a key role in regards to global network infrastructure. Although the question of whether or not that is a good thing, is still murky.
Written by Saanvika Gandhari
