Center for Space Environmentalism

Starlink Is Dropping From the Sky Again and Again. Scientists Warn Earth Is Already Feeling the Effects For decades, space safety rules assumed satellite reentries would stay rare. By early 2026, with over 70,000 megaconstellation spacecraft planned, that assumption has collapsed.

"For decades, space safety rules assumed satellite reentries would stay rare. By early 2026, with over 70,000 megaconstellation spacecraft planned, that assumption has collapsed."

indiandefencereview.com/starlink-sat...

#Space #Satellites #SpaceEnvironment

Satellite megaconstellations continue to grow. Could their debris fall on us? "What happens if the minimum lethal amount of debris from each satellite does not burn up and reaches the ground intact?"

"A new study looks into eleven different megaconstellations and what would happen during their fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere. They find that there's a 40% collective risk of on-ground casualties if satellites do not burn up entirely."

www.space.com/space-explor...

#Space #SpaceEnvironment

AST SpaceMobile Unfurls Massive Satellite To Challenge Cellular Starlink AST SpaceMobile's newest satellite successfully unfolded its massive 2,400 square-foot array, which has been designed to beam cellular connectivity to phones on the ground.

AST SpaceMobile announced "'the largest commercial communications array antenna ever deployed in Low Earth Orbit'."

www.pcmag.com/news/ast-spa...

The massive size of this antenna also makes it a large target for space debris.

#Space #Satellites

Satellite Megaconstellations Could Threaten Up to 96 Percent of Space Telescope Images Learn how expanding satellite megaconstellations in low Earth orbit could introduce widespread light pollution into space telescope observations.

"A new study published in Nature finds that reflections from large satellite constellations could interfere with most images taken by some current and future space observatories."

www.discovermagazine.com/satellite-me...

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #Astronomy

That's a great question. We are not sure yet, namely because little about it is known outside of China (at least to civilian authorities). It seems to be something that could adapt to general ASAT activities.

Data Center Space Race Heats Up As Startup Requests 88,000 Satellites Days after SpaceX filed its plan for a constellation of one million satellites with the FCC, Starcloud is looking to build its own 88,000-satellite constellation for AI data centers.

"A race to secure regulatory approval for data centers in space is emerging, with a US startup called Starcloud submitting a proposal to the FCC for a constellation of up to 88,000 satellites." (via @pcmag.com)

www.pcmag.com/news/data-ce...

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceDebris

China takes big step towards developing ‘Starlink killer’ weapon Device small enough to be mounted on trucks, aircraft, or even satellites

"Chinese scientists have developed a compact ultra-powerful energy generator, paving the way for next-generation weapons that could one day be turned on satellite swarms like SpaceX’s Starlink constellation."

www.the-independent.com/tech/china-s...

#SpaceEnvironment #SpaceWarfare #SpaceDebris

Why did SpaceX just apply to launch 1 million satellites? SpaceX says it wants to deploy an astronomical number of data centres in orbit to supply power for artificial intelligence, but the proposal might not be entirely serious

"We are only a month into 2026, yet it’s already clear what one of the major space stories of the year is going to be: mega-constellations, and the ongoing attempts to launch thousands of satellites into Earth’s orbit."

www.newscientist.com/article/2514...

#SpaceEnvironment

ATLANTIC SKIES: How increasing numbers of satellite negatively impacts our night sky As more satellites are launched, not only does it impact visualizing the night sky, it could pose a threat

"We are slowly, but steadily, losing our night skies. Not content to pollute our planet’s natural environments, private corporations and governments have their sights set on choking the skies with more and more satellites."

www.saltwire.com/newfoundland...

#Space #SpaceEnvironment

SpaceX’s Starlink dodged 300,000 satellite collisions in 2025 The company’s mega-constellation is having to perform a huge number of manoeuvres to prevent a collision in Earth orbit

"A report filed by SpaceX with the FCC in late December reveals some startling information – including that its Starlink satellites had to perform about 300,000 collision-avoidance manoeuvres in 2025." (via @newscientist.com)

www.newscientist.com/article/2512...

SpaceX Eyes 1 Million Satellites for Orbital Data Center Push In a late Friday FCC filing, the company mentions deploying a staggering 'one million satellites' in orbits ranging from 500 kilometers to 2,000km.

"SpaceX is requesting to launch up to 1 million satellites to create a network of orbiting data centers around Earth. The plan is shocking in its scope, and would dwarf the existing Starlink constellation, which currently spans over 9,600 satellites in Earth’s orbit."

www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-...

Britain prepares emergency alert amid fears over Chinese space junk Government experts are monitoring debris from rocket, which is due to enter atmosphere on Friday

"Mobile networks have now been asked to check that their emergency alert system is operational, in case the debris crashes in Britain and a message needs to be sent to people living near to the impact site."

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceDebris

WEF’s Space Debris Report Projects Significant Costs This week, the World Economic Forum came out with a report, produced in partnership with the Centre for Space Futures, the Saudi Space Agency, LeoLabs, and Novaspace, titled “Clear Orbit, Secure Futur...

"Even without any major collisions in orbit, WEF’s orbital population model projects that congestion in space will cost industry between $25.8B and $42.3B over the next decade. A destructive collision would send that number skyrocketing."

payloadspace.com/wefs-space-d...

Burning satellites in the stratosphere: Emerging questions for climate   - The Salata Institute Since the start of the space age, humans have treated the upper atmosphere like a dump. What we know, and what we don’t, about incinerated space trash.

"In the last few years, the number of satellite launches has increased by an order of magnitude. The pace of both launching & retiring these units is creating new kinds of pollution, potentially upsetting the climate system & the protective ozone layer."

salatainstitute.harvard.edu/burning-sate...

More international cooperation needed to reduce space debris, says SSA’s chief RIYADH: Reducing the amount of debris orbiting Earth in space requires more international cooperation, the acting CEO of the Saudi Space Agency said at a Riyadh event on Monday. Speaking at the openin...

“Up to $42 billion of economic losses could be caused by space debris by 2035, according to a paper published by the Centre for Space Futures in collaboration with the World Economic Forum during Monday’s conference.”

www.arabnews.com/node/2630678/

#SpaceDebris #SpaceEnvironment

We have published our Manifesto, a document that lays out the rationale for the existence of CSE, summarizes our vision for humanity's future in space, and calls people, governments and private actors everywhere to take action to realize that future.

Read the document here: doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

China has applied to launch 200,000 satellites, but what are they for? A Chinese application to the International Telecommunications Union suggests plans for the largest satellite mega constellation ever built – but something else might be going on here

"China has applied to launch nearly 200,000 satellites into Earth orbit, but the move may be an attempt at merely reserving orbital space rather than a genuine effort to build the largest mega-constellation in existence."

www.newscientist.com/article/2511...

That's correct, although they say it is a deliberate choice so as to more easily bring down defunct objects on a faster timescale than when they are up in the nominal 550-km orbits.

SpaceX Faces More Pushback Over Plans to Launch 15K Cellular Starlink Satellites Concerns from rivals like Viasat and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin range from radio interference and orbital dominance to potentially harming the Earth's atmosphere.

"SpaceX's plan to launch an additional 15,000 satellites for its Starlink cellular system has sparked opposition and concern from rival companies and environmentalists, who are weighing in after the FCC opened a public comment period on the proposed constellation."

www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-...

ICFS Application Summary - ICFS Portal

Reflect Orbital have replied to the list of questions sent in December by the FCC about their request to fly a prototype. But many concerns remain unaddressed, including risks to pilots at night and where sunlight goes when reflectors are inactive.

fccprod.servicenowservices.com/ibfs?id=ibfs...

Starlink plans to lower satellite orbit to enhance safety in 2026 Starlink will begin a reconfiguration of its satellite constellation by lowering all of its satellites orbiting at around 550 km (342 miles) to 480 km over the course of 2026, Michael Nicolls, SpaceX'...

"Starlink will begin a reconfiguration of its satellite constellation by lowering all of its satellites orbiting at around 550 km (342 miles) to 480 km over the course of 2026, Michael Nicolls, SpaceX's vice president of Starlink engineering, said on Thursday."

www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Space Astronomy Is Under Threat As New Paper "Raises Important Concerns" About Megaconstellations Light pollution from satellites affects more than just the Earth.

Thanks to @drcarpineti.bsky.social at @iflscience.com for featuring CSE in this story about the recent Nature paper by Borlaff, Marcum and Howell.

www.iflscience.com/space-astron...

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #Satellites

Starlink Satellite Malfunctions, Ejects Debris Fragments SpaceX expects the tumbling satellite to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up.

"The [SpaceX] statement raises questions about whether the satellite experienced a minor explosion or was struck by something. It also suggests the satellite can no longer maneuver with its built-in propulsion, even if contact is re-established."

www.pcmag.com/news/starlin...

'Tragedy of the commons' in space: We need to act now to prevent an orbital debris crisis, scientists say "We have to get serious about this and recognize that, unless we do something, we are in imminent danger of making a whole part of our Earth environment unusable."

"Humanity needs to start addressing the growing space junk problem now, scientists stress. 'We have to get serious about this and recognize that, unless we do something, we are in imminent danger of making a whole part of our Earth environment unusable.'" #SpaceDebris

www.space.com/space-explor...

Billionaires want data centers everywhere, including space Guess what scientists think?

Thanks to @elissawelle.bsky.social of @theverge.com for diving deep into the issue of space data centers in this article and reaching out to us for comment.

Spacecraft from Chinese launch nearly slammed into Starlink satellite, SpaceX says "As far as we know, no coordination or deconfliction with existing satellites operating in space was performed, resulting in a 200 meter close approach between one of the deployed satellites and STARL...

"As far as we know, no coordination or deconfliction with existing satellites operating in space was performed, resulting in a 200 meter close approach between one of the deployed satellites and STARLINK-6079 (56120) at 560 km altitude."

www.space.com/space-explor...

#Space #SpaceEnvironment

‘Uncontrolled experiment:’ Study links harmful atmospheric metals to spacecraft reentry ‘Uncontrolled experiment:’ Study links harmful atmospheric metals to spacecraft reentry

"According to new research, 'space waste' injects a considerable amount of its matter into the mesosphere and lower thermosphere — enough to potentially weaken the Earth’s ozone layer."

spacenews.com/uncontrolled...

#SpaceEnvironment #Space #Atmosphere

Satellites face solar storm threat Charged particles from the sun could affect mega internet constellations like SpaceX's Starlink

Starlink satellites "are deployed in a giant mesh around the planet. This means a solar storm and its accompanying geomagnetic storm is likely to influence at least some of the satellites, no matter when it occurs."

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#SpaceEnvironment

Space waste: An update of the anthropogenic matter injection into Earth atmosphere Large satellite constellations are one of the main reasons for an increasing amount of mass being brought into low Earth orbit in recent years. After end of life, the satellites, as well as rocket sta...

“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.”

arxiv.org/abs/2510.21328

“A 10-fold enhancement of lithium atoms was detected at 96 km altitude by a resonance lidar at Kuhlungsborn, Germany, approximately 20 hours after the uncontrolled re-entry of a Falcon 9 upper stage on 19 February 2025.”

Preprint: assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-712...

#Atmosphere #Pollution