Astrophysicists are sounding the alarm as Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites are now re-entering Earth’s atmosphere at a rate of one or two per day — and that number is climbing. With over 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit and more than 2,000 launched in 2025 alone, SpaceX’s race to dominate the skies is creating a growing storm of space debris. Smithsonian astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell warns that as thousands more satellites are launched by SpaceX, Amazon, and China, low Earth orbit is becoming dangerously overcrowded. Most Starlink satellites have a lifespan of just five years before burning up in the atmosphere — but their fiery descent is releasing metals that could harm the ozone layer, with some scientists warning we may already be damaging Earth’s upper atmosphere.

The environmental fallout could be catastrophic. The FAA predicts that by 2035, fragments from falling satellites could kill someone on the ground with a 61% yearly probability — once thought impossible. Experts also warn of the looming threat of Kessler syndrome, a chain reaction of orbital collisions that could trap humanity beneath a deadly cloud of debris. Meanwhile, a powerful solar storm could wipe out large swaths of satellites overnight, worsening the crisis. As McDowell put it, “We’re already on track for five re-entries per day.” The race for global internet coverage may soon turn Earth’s orbit — and atmosphere — into a scrapyard, with consequences far beyond our control.

SOURCE: Futurism