Post #3517368
2025-05-04 20:54 UTC
"Falling satellites in 2022 produced about 17 tons of alumina, a 30% increase over natural levels. Fully realized “mega-constellations” of 550-pound satellites, which might be 30% aluminum, could add 360 tons a year, likely enough to harm the ozone layer.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-space-orbit-satellites-pollution/
Replies (1)
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@fj@mastodon.social 2025-07-03 15:22
“472 Starlinks were burned up in the atmosphere in Dec-May. Assuming each satellite is 800kg, and 50% aluminum by mass, that's 1 ton of aluminum PER DAY. The natural infall rate of aluminum from meteoroids is 0.3 tons per day. Starlink has been ~3x that, for the last 6 months.” https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/114789679793357277