Cross posted from https://thelemmy.club/post/51693844
Cross posted from https://thelemmy.club/post/51693681
Satellite launches have increased exponentially since 2020, and now space debris is increasing at a similar unbelievable rate, making the hypothetical Keppler Effect (also Kepler Syndrome) a very real possibility in the near future. As this material eventually deorbits and rains down into the planet, it vaporizes into metallic oxides like Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) and toxic compounds, which poison the air and also degrade Ozone (O3), the delicate oxygen layer in the stratosphere which provides life from harmful UV radiation. Geophysicist Stefan Burns reports on the situation...
2 Comments
josephmbasile@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 79d
Oh so we're back to killing to ozone layer, great. Thanks elon
ianhclark510@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 79d
Idk, linking ozone layer depletion to space junk feels a little sketchy
We already get ~100 tons of material entering earth’s atmosphere from space a day so wouldn’t you need to deorbit like 100 starlink a day to match that?