15 lines
1.6 KiB
JSON
15 lines
1.6 KiB
JSON
{
|
|
"HubID": "5114",
|
|
"Date": "2/5/2025",
|
|
"HubTags": [
|
|
"External Platform Posts",
|
|
"Future Map"
|
|
],
|
|
"Contacts": "",
|
|
"Companies": "",
|
|
"File": "",
|
|
"Image": "",
|
|
"Summary": "<p>What goes up into orbit must come down, burning up harmlessly, right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple and has major implications for our ozone layer. </p><p>Take SpaceX, which has more than 7,000 Starlink satellites in earth orbit. Now, older ones are coming down - January saw 120 satellites deorbit into fireballs. </p><p>The problem is that on reentry, metallic vapors are being added to the atmosphere. The demise of just one Gen1 Starlink satellite produces about 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of aluminum oxide particles that eat away at the ozone layer. These particles catalyze chemical reactions that deplete stratospheric ozone, which protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Notably, aluminum oxides don't get consumed in these reactions, allowing them to persist and continue depleting ozone for decades as they descend through the stratosphere. </p><p>A new study finds these oxides have increased 8-fold between 2016 and 2022, and that is not counting the surge we see coming as older generation satellite deorbit in droves. </p><p>How big of a problem is this? We don't yet know. </p><p>Are there solutions? Japan has tested a wooden satellite. As innovation accelerates using AI and quantum computing, we should be able to develop new materials to counteract this problem. </p><a href=\"https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GL109280\">https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.102...</a>",
|
|
"Notes": ""
|
|
}
|