XPost: misc.news.internet.discuss   
   From: here@is.invalid   
      
   Humanity's satellite habit could end up choking Earth's ozone layer   
      
   Just when you think we've solved chlorofluorocarbons   
      
   Large numbers of low Earth orbit satellites such as those operated by   
   Starlink could pose a threat to the planet's ozone layer once they   
   re-enter the atmosphere, according to recent research.   
      
   Constellations of small satellites being deployed for purposes such as   
   broadband coverage typically have a relatively short life span, said   
   to be about five years for Starlink, after which they re-enter the   
   atmosphere and burn up, with replacements sent up to take over their   
   roles.   
      
   But researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) say   
   that this leads to the generation of aluminum oxides in the   
   atmosphere, which are known to accelerate ozone depletion. The large   
   number of satellites involved - Starlink alone was estimated to have   
   6,078 satellites in orbit as of May 2024 - could mean this presents a   
   serious risk.   
      
   https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/25/satellite_reentry_ozone   
      
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