"The surge in megasatellite constellations is creating problems beyond amplifying the Earth-circling space debris, according to new research. Reentering spacecraft and rocket stages may also be damaging Earth’s atmosphere. 'Space waste,' spacecraft reentering the atmosphere, injects a considerable amount of its matter into the mesosphere and lower #thermosphere — enough to potentially weaken the Earth’s #ozone layer."

https://spacenews.com/uncontrolled-experiment-study-links-harmful-atmospheric-metals-to-spacecraft-reentry/

#SpaceEnvironment #Space #Atmosphere

"The surge in megasatellite constellations is creating problems beyond amplifying the Earth-circling space debris, according to new research. Reentering spacecraft and rocket stages may also be damaging Earth’s atmosphere. 'Space waste,' spacecraft reentering the atmosphere, injects a considerable amount of its matter into the mesosphere and lower #thermosphere — enough to potentially weaken the Earth’s #ozone layer."

https://spacenews.com/uncontrolled-experiment-study-links-harmful-atmospheric-metals-to-spacecraft-reentry/

#SpaceEnvironment #Space #Atmosphere

“In general, from 2020 onward, a strong rise in space waste mass influx to the #atmosphere can be seen. ... This indicates a substantial risk of long-term adverse effects on the atmosphere such as #ozone depletion, radiative effects and changes in #cloud formation, if no action is taken. Research is urgently needed into the atmospheric accumulation, #chemistry, and general atmospheric effects of specific elements.”

https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21328

#SpaceEnvironment

“In general, from 2020 onward, a strong rise in space waste mass influx to the #atmosphere can be seen. ... This indicates a substantial risk of long-term adverse effects on the atmosphere such as #ozone depletion, radiative effects and changes in #cloud formation, if no action is taken. Research is urgently needed into the atmospheric accumulation, #chemistry, and general atmospheric effects of specific elements.”

https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21328

#SpaceEnvironment

"The Dark and Quiet Skies Campaign serves us well to remember that the governance of outer space is not simply about money and geopolitics. The values of science and culture also have a place. As you follow the track of a satellite across the night sky this week, consider what kind of sky and scientific legacy we want to leave for future generations."

https://legal-planet.org/2025/10/13/what-is-space-law/

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceLaw

"The Dark and Quiet Skies Campaign serves us well to remember that the governance of outer space is not simply about money and geopolitics. The values of science and culture also have a place. As you follow the track of a satellite across the night sky this week, consider what kind of sky and scientific legacy we want to leave for future generations."

https://legal-planet.org/2025/10/13/what-is-space-law/

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceLaw

Comment from Andy Lawrence (University of Edinburgh) in Science: "Astronomical interference is not as important a problem as climate change, or plastic in the sea, or the loss of biodiversity, but the root cause is the same—uncontrolled growth and displacement of the true costs. Why do we need twice as many satellites every year and a half? It's asking for trouble in so many ways."

https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.ady9838

#Space#SpaceEnvironment#Astronomy#Satellites

Comment from Andy Lawrence (University of Edinburgh) in Science: "Astronomical interference is not as important a problem as climate change, or plastic in the sea, or the loss of biodiversity, but the root cause is the same—uncontrolled growth and displacement of the true costs. Why do we need twice as many satellites every year and a half? It's asking for trouble in so many ways."

https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.ady9838

#Space#SpaceEnvironment#Astronomy#Satellites

"''The message that I keep trying to deliver to anybody who will listen is: We need to have fewer satellites with longer operational lifetimes. Anything that you can do to make your satellites last longer and to use fewer of them—that is the engineering challenge that we are now facing, and I don’t see anyone really taking that up.'"

Featuring quotes from our members @sundogplanets and @planet4589.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/with-space-junk-on-the-rise-is-a-catastrophic-event-inevitable-180986907/

#Space#SpaceDebris#Satellites#SpaceEnvironment

"''The message that I keep trying to deliver to anybody who will listen is: We need to have fewer satellites with longer operational lifetimes. Anything that you can do to make your satellites last longer and to use fewer of them—that is the engineering challenge that we are now facing, and I don’t see anyone really taking that up.'"

Featuring quotes from our members @sundogplanets and @planet4589.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/with-space-junk-on-the-rise-is-a-catastrophic-event-inevitable-180986907/

#Space#SpaceDebris#Satellites#SpaceEnvironment