There are currently more than 8,000 internet satellites in low Earth orbit. Internet satellite systems like Elon Musk’s Starlink could destroy Earth’s ozone layer, according to University of Southern California researchers. A study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research Letters stated that SpaceX’s Starlink released large amounts of aluminum oxide gas into the atmosphere that could destroy the ozone layer.
The ozone layer is vital to our survival. It absorbs the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer and even damage crops and food production.
“Only in recent years have people started to think this could be a problem. One of the first groups to see what this fact means,” said Joseph Wan, an Astronaut researcher at the University of Southern California, in a statement.
Putting 8,000 Satellites in Low Earth Orbit Under Scrutiny
Internet satellites in low Earth orbit have a short lifespan of about five years. Today, there are more than 8,000 internet satellites in low Earth orbit, of which approximately 6,000 are Starlink. The researchers said the satellite was designed to burn up in the atmosphere at the end of their service life. As a result, they can emit more than 1,000 tons of aluminum oxide every year, an increase of 646 percent over the natural level. Aluminum oxide destroys ozone by reacting destructively with chlorine.
Researchers says “During reprocessing, the satellite burns, producing aluminum oxide as a primary product. It is a catalyst to activate ozone-depleting chlorine in the stratosphere, We found that a typical 250 kg satellite crash can produce about 30 kg of aluminum oxide nanoparticles that can persist in the atmosphere for decades.”
The researchers found that between 2016 and 2022, the presence of oxides increased almost eightfold and could increase further with current satellite flight plans.
According to the Independent, while SpaceX only has permission to launch 42,000 Starlink satellites, Amazon and other tech giants also plan to launch thousands more in the coming years.
The rapid increase in the number of satellites raises concerns about collisions with space debris that could damage other satellites.