Elon Musk’s Starlink program, the largest satellite constellation ever built, currently operates over 6,000 active satellites in low Earth orbit with plans to expand beyond 20,000. Designed to provide global internet coverage, the system relies on a cycle where older satellites are decommissioned and replaced. In 2025, it has been recorded that between one and two Starlink satellites are deliberately deorbiting and burning up in Earth’s atmosphere every day, producing bright fireballs visible around the world.
These reentries, while spectacular to watch, have sparked concerns in the scientific community. Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell explains that satellites are designed to disintegrate safely upon atmospheric reentry, posing no direct risk to people on the ground. However, the accelerated rate and sheer quantity of reentries may have unforeseen consequences in the long term.
One pressing issue is the release of trace metals such as aluminum oxide into the upper atmosphere. Scientists warn that these particles could interfere with ozone chemistry and alter the reflectivity of the Earth’s atmosphere. The accumulation of such pollutants already constituting around 10 percent of aerosol particles in the stratosphere could increase as more satellite launches and reentries continue.
Further studies are underway to understand the effects of thousands of satellites burning up annually. Environmental and space experts emphasize the need for better regulations and transparency on satellite deorbiting practices to mitigate risks. There is also growing worry about the potential of Kessler syndrome, where collisions between space debris cause cascading damage that could make parts of orbit unusable.
Despite these concerns, SpaceX maintains its satellites are equipped to safely burn up without harming people or property. The company deliberately guides decommissioned satellites to reenter over uninhabited areas such as the ocean. Yet, the scale of the megaconstellation and the rising death rate of satellites in the atmosphere makes this issue a global challenge.
As satellites continue their fiery descent nightly, the balance between technological progress and our planet is under some serious scrutiny.