Megaconstellations Spark Unregulated Climate Experiment, Scientists Warn

Scientists warn that SpaceX’s Starlink and other megaconstellations are creating a growing, unregulated high-altitude pollution problem: rocket launches emit black carbon that can have a climate impact far larger than surface sources, while re-entries release aluminum oxides that could harm the ozone. By 2029, pollution from megaconstellations could account for over 40% of space-sector emissions, and with fleets swelling toward tens or hundreds of thousands of satellites, climate effects could alter weather patterns—prompting calls for tighter regulation and more research before the growth accelerates.