Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth

Abstract The rapid development of mega-constellations risks multiple tragedies of the commons, including tragedies to ground-based astronomy, Earth orbit, and Earth’s upper atmosphere. Moreover, the connections between the Earth and space environments are inadequately taken into account by the adopt...

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Autores principales:	Aaron C. Boley, Michael Byers
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/04b656f6b33e40d59d898064fab291d8
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:04b656f6b33e40d59d898064fab291d8
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:04b656f6b33e40d59d898064fab291d82021-12-02T16:51:31ZSatellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth10.1038/s41598-021-89909-72045-2322https://doaj.org/article/04b656f6b33e40d59d898064fab291d82021-05-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89909-7https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract The rapid development of mega-constellations risks multiple tragedies of the commons, including tragedies to ground-based astronomy, Earth orbit, and Earth’s upper atmosphere. Moreover, the connections between the Earth and space environments are inadequately taken into account by the adoption of a consumer electronic model applied to space assets. For example, we point out that satellite re-entries from the Starlink mega-constellation alone could deposit more aluminum into Earth’s upper atmosphere than what is done through meteoroids; they could thus become the dominant source of high-altitude alumina. Using simple models, we also show that untracked debris will lead to potentially dangerous on-orbit collisions on a regular basis due to the large number of satellites within mega-constellation orbital shells. The total cross-section of satellites in these constellations also greatly increases the risk of impacts due to meteoroids. De facto orbit occupation by single actors, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and the possibility of free-riding exacerbate these risks. International cooperation is urgently needed, along with a regulatory system that takes into account the effects of tens of thousands of satellites.Aaron C. BoleyMichael ByersNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Aaron C. Boley Michael Byers Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth
description	Abstract The rapid development of mega-constellations risks multiple tragedies of the commons, including tragedies to ground-based astronomy, Earth orbit, and Earth’s upper atmosphere. Moreover, the connections between the Earth and space environments are inadequately taken into account by the adoption of a consumer electronic model applied to space assets. For example, we point out that satellite re-entries from the Starlink mega-constellation alone could deposit more aluminum into Earth’s upper atmosphere than what is done through meteoroids; they could thus become the dominant source of high-altitude alumina. Using simple models, we also show that untracked debris will lead to potentially dangerous on-orbit collisions on a regular basis due to the large number of satellites within mega-constellation orbital shells. The total cross-section of satellites in these constellations also greatly increases the risk of impacts due to meteoroids. De facto orbit occupation by single actors, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and the possibility of free-riding exacerbate these risks. International cooperation is urgently needed, along with a regulatory system that takes into account the effects of tens of thousands of satellites.
format	article
author	Aaron C. Boley Michael Byers
author_facet	Aaron C. Boley Michael Byers
author_sort	Aaron C. Boley
title	Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth
title_short	Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth
title_full	Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth
title_fullStr	Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth
title_full_unstemmed	Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth
title_sort	satellite mega-constellations create risks in low earth orbit, the atmosphere and on earth
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/04b656f6b33e40d59d898064fab291d8
work_keys_str_mv	AT aaroncboley satellitemegaconstellationscreaterisksinlowearthorbittheatmosphereandonearth AT michaelbyers satellitemegaconstellationscreaterisksinlowearthorbittheatmosphereandonearth
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Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth

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