Posted on 10/11/2025 7:45:44 PM PDT by aimhigh
As Starlink satellites degrade orbit and die, Elon has to keep launching Starlink satellites. So gradually his fleet of satellites is being upgraded with newer and improved Starlink satellites.
Bkmk
-PJ
i was under the impression that this was the cunning plan; they are in low earth orbit, after all.
Yep, when they fall out of orbit and burn up, it’s definitely extreme recycling.
What a lot of scaremongering this is and not worthy of your time to read.
The story barely touches on it, but they are worried that aluminum oxide from the burning up will affect the climate. Or something.
All part of the anti Musk media campaign.
Right after Elon started supporting Trump and Free Speech, there are no longer any positive stories about him, Tesla, or anything else he’s involved with.
They do not fall out of orbit they are pushed out of orbit on command by their hall effect ion engines. When their fuel runs low or a newer next generation bird comes to it’s spot in the shell Starlink orders the older bird to deorbit over the Pacific in the designated reentry area. They are designed to burn up and have no large parts impact the oceans surface.
There is some debate as to what the long term effect of nanoparticles of aluminum , titanium and silicon will have on the ozone layer and upper atmosphere. Should a negative effect be found then an alternative element could be used. Wood and polymers have been experimented with since they turn to water and CO2 harmless to ozone.
People want clicks and also hate Elon. Every one of the Starlink birds has a plan for it’s removal from orbit every single one. Tell the author to call down Francis.
I found it interesting. It explains the near identical meteors I have been seeing.
So if I find one, I can keep it?
What could be greener?
STUPID ARTICLE. Srarlink satellites INTENTIONALLY “deorbit” themselves in a controlled fashion once that becomes appropriate and are designed to completely burn up in the atmosphere without harming anything or anyone.
Think the Chinese or SpaceX competitors are taking such care with THEIR satellites? Believe me, they are not!
SpaceX is so successful, the only entities NOT using SpaceX are the Chicoms. Even the ESA (European Space Agency). Heck, the Falcon 9 is so reliable and inexpensive, so-called arch rival Amazon has contracted with SpaceX to launch their Kuiper Internet Satellites. I say so-called because the Bezos Blue Origin rocket seems more like a hobby than a viable business.
The Space Force just contracted with SpaceX to launch $700 million worth of hardware, using the Falcon Heavy system (3 Falcon 9s strapped together).
I hope to live long enough to witness the massive SpaceX Starship landing on Mars (unmanned of course).
That and being a "good citizen" ... leaving nonfunctional satellites in a useful orbit is akin to scattering your trash in your neighbors' yards.
Well, Musk is now persona non grata, despite his awesome accomplishments, d/t his political shift to the right.
If California Prop 65 requires warning labels at the assembly plant where the satellites are made that toxins are present, how will they feel when those very same toxins burn up in the sky?

-PJ
That will not happen. Aluminum is an extremely reactive metal. It loves to burn. Oddly this makes it very non reactive. When aluminum burns due to oxygen it becomes an aluminum oxide which is damn near inert. That aluminum oxide coating is what makes it almost inert. Otherwise airplanes would be spontaneously combusting on the ground in the manufacturing plant. All the aluminum parts of those satellites become aluminum oxide and virtually inert during reentry at thousands of degrees.
It is all about Musk. They lie. The key was when the article said "unknown" about the effects on weather. As mentioned prior, THEY LIE.
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