Space pollution: the alert of scientists in the face of mega-constellations like Starlink
The launches of satellite mega-constellations are a large source of pollution. © XNK / Shutterstock
Each year, hundreds of rockets take off towards space. While certain launches are more publicized, in particular those which allow to send Rovers on Mars or equipment and astronauts to the international space station, the vast majority are used to put satellites in orbit. And pollution caused by all these rockets worries the scientific community that would like to establish global regulations.
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According to researchers from the University College in London, the year 2023 experienced 223 rocket launches, a figure that climbed 259 in 2024. This represents more than 153,000 tonnes of fuel. Even if the aerospace industry launches release less carbon dioxide and soot in the air than other industries, these elements are released in the upper atmosphere where they stay much longer. The impact would be multiplied by 500.
Rockets and satellites reject more pollutants in the atmosphere than ever before. We are in unknown territory, because human activity has never polluted so much the upper layers of the atmosphere. Without regulation, these emissions could have serious consequences on the earth’s atmosphere.
Mega-constellations: a key factor in space pollution
No need to find out very far to know the cause of the increase in the number of launches: the mega-constellations of satellites. That of SpaceX, Starlink, offers a very fast and affordable internet connection on a good part of the globe. However, it is based on more than 8,000 satellites, a number which should further increase to reach 12,000 in the near future, and potentially tens of thousands later.
There are also other mega-constellations like Oneweb, Thousand Sils, with others planned like Kuiper from Amazon. They tripled the pollution generated by launches, and the industry now consumes more fuel for their orbit than for all other combined launches.
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The mixture of pollutants produced is likely to change in the future with the advent of the Kuiper mega-constellations of Amazon. These plan to use the European space agency rocket, powered by solid fuel and producing chlorine compounds harmful to the ozone layer.
Spatial laws exceeded in the face of ecological issues
And it is not only the orbit that poses a problem. These satellites have a very limited lifespan. Then, they fall towards the earth and disintegrate into the atmosphere, generating even more soot, as well as other particles, in particular metallic, which could cause chemical reactions.
Current international law is closely linked to the principles of the high seas. The country which has launched an object owns it, and only the laws of this country apply to the object in space. This is one of the reasons why tasks like cleaning are so difficult.
According to the researchers of the University College of London, 2,016 objects disintegrated by falling back into the atmosphere in 2023, a figure which increased to 2,539 objects in 2024. With the multiplication of mega-constellations, it is therefore a source of increasing pollution. Only international regulations could manage to limit its effects on the climate.
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