Tag

Megaconstellations

All articles tagged with #megaconstellations

technology2 days ago•14 min saved

Starship's heft upends the satellite playbook

SpaceX’s Starship, boasting over 100 metric tons to LEO and a path to full reuse, is redefining how satellites are designed and deployed. Its side-door, Pez-dispenser-style deployment for Starlink V3s enables flat-panel, stackable satellites and mass rideshares, opening new markets from megaconstellations to lunar/Mars missions and orbital data centers. Industry analysis suggests dramatic potential drops in launch costs per kilogram as reuse matures, though the economics will hinge on ongoing development and rising competition with Blue Origin.

via Ars Technica|

#flatsat #launch-costs #megaconstellations

science-and-technology10 days ago•11 min saved

Cleaning up Earth's orbital clutter: a three-front plan to tame space debris

About 13,486 tonnes of debris orbit Earth, with tens of thousands of pieces larger than 10 cm, risking collisions that could trigger a cascading Kessler syndrome and threaten satellites and crewed missions. The article advocates a three-pronged approach: (1) technology and design changes, including active debris removal methods (nets, magnets, tethers, harpoons) and more durable or disposable satellites (even testing wood as a spacecraft material); (2) policy shifts like stricter end-of-life disposal (five-year rule) and stronger space traffic management and debris-mitigation standards; (3) a shift in thinking—treating space as an interconnected environment with ethical obligations, not a limitless frontier. It also notes the rising impact of mega-constellations on debris and ongoing international efforts to reduce risks.

via The Conversation|

#active-debris-removal #kessler-syndrome #megaconstellations

space14 days ago•15 min saved

Megaconstellations shrink Low Earth Orbit’s safety margin from months to days

Researchers introduce the CRASH Clock to estimate how long low Earth orbit could remain safe if satellites could no longer dodge each other; the margin fell from 164 days in 2018 to 5.5 days in 2025 as megaconstellations expanded, underscoring that LEO is now an infrastructure-like shared space requiring continuous coordination, accurate tracking, and robust data to prevent a rapid cascade of near-misses.

via Space Daily|

#collision-avoidance #crash-clock #low-earth-orbit

technology14 days ago•5 min saved

Starlink veterans launch Eclipse Space to enable sovereign, owner-driven satellite constellations

Former SpaceX Starlink engineers launch Eclipse Space to design satellites with owned IP and a fabless, regionally assembled production model, giving governments and enterprises control over megaconstellations rather than relying on a single operator; first hardware this year and a 2027 demonstration, backed by early-stage investors and an AI-enabled design platform.

via SpaceNews|

#eclipse-space #fabless-manufacturing #government-customers

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Megaconstellation Pollution Could Quietly Cool Earth by 2029, Study Finds

A study in Earth's Future warns that pollution from deorbiting megaconstellation satellites and rocket launches could reduce sunlight enough to have a cooling effect comparable to solar geoengineering by 2029; satellites already account for about a quarter of space industry climate impact and are expected to rise to 42% by 2029, with annual rocket soot around 870 metric tons; while this cooling might seem beneficial amid warming, the effects are uncertain and the lack of regulation poses risks, prompting calls for caution and policy action.

via Futurism|

#climate #geoengineering #megaconstellations

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Satellite Boom Could Leave Uncharted Climate Footprint, Study Warns

A new study projects that the rapid deployment of satellite megaconstellations will drive a growing climate impact via black carbon from rocket launches, potentially rising to about 42% of space-sector warming by 2029 as launches and propellant use increase; while soot has a cooling effect in the upper atmosphere, its impact is small compared to greenhouse gases, prompting calls for tighter regulation, better emissions tracking, and caution around unregulated growth and potential ozone or geoengineering risks.

via Gizmodo|

#black-carbon #climate-change #geoengineering

space1 month ago•73 min saved

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.

via Space|

#climate-change #geoengineering #megaconstellations

space-exploration2 months ago•51 min saved

Atlas V set to loft 29 Amazon Leo satellites in latest broadband milestone

ULA’s Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral at 8:52 p.m. ET to deploy 29 Amazon Leo satellites for the Amazon Leo broadband constellation, marking the sixth Atlas V mission in this program and potentially tying the rocket’s heaviest payload record (~18 tons); Amazon’s long‑term plan envisions more than 3,200 satellites in low‑Earth orbit, with live coverage available on Space.com and via ULA’s feed.

via Space|

#amazon-leo #atlas-v #megaconstellations

space3 months ago•25 min saved

Fragile Orbits: Could a Debris Cascade Spin Out of Control?

The Guardian piece explains Earth’s orbit is now a crowded, evolving space: about 32,000 objects are currently tracked, with private mega‑constellations like Starlink driving a rapid rise in satellites and debris. Projections suggest as many as 60,000 active satellites by the end of the decade. A collision cascade—where one crash produces fragments that collide with more satellites—could rapidly worsen conditions, potentially making launches dangerous and the orbital environment unsustainable. Experts like Jonathan McDowell warn the system is fragile and hinges on continuous cooperation; deorbiting, nets, lasers and stronger space governance are being explored to avert a debris catastrophe.

via The Guardian|

#debris #megaconstellations #orbital-traffic

science-tech4 months ago•12 min saved

Megaconstellations Could Turn Earth's Atmosphere Into a Crematorium

Researchers warn that the rapid push to satellite mega-constellations—SpaceX and other operators planning up to a million satellites—could cause vast amounts of debris to re-enter and burn up in the upper atmosphere, releasing alumina and other particulates that heat the atmosphere and deplete ozone, with potentially lasting climate impacts. Ground debris and casualty risks rise as more satellites are launched, and a million-satellite scale could significantly alter atmospheric chemistry. The piece calls for global regulation and a defined atmospheric carrying capacity for launches and re-entries, plus full lifecycle environmental assessments, urging SpaceX to take a leadership role.

via The Conversation|

#atmosphere #megaconstellations #ozone-depletion

science-tech4 months ago•12 min saved

Megaconstellations Threaten the Night Sky and Cultural Heritage

SpaceX filed for a megaconstellation of up to a million satellites to power space-based data centers, joining a boom of proposals that could raise the number of active satellites from about 14,000 today to millions. The article warns this will permanently alter the night sky, disrupt astronomy and Indigenous cultural practices, and raise environmental and regulatory gaps, noting the lack of unified space traffic management. It advocates a Dark Skies Impact Assessment to document cumulative effects, explore mitigation, and inform licensing—aiming to improve decision-making rather than veto space development.

via The Conversation|

#astronomy #cultural-impact #megaconstellations

business5 months ago•17 min saved

SpaceX plots solar-powered orbital data-center megaconstellation

SpaceX has asked the FCC to authorize a constellation of up to one million satellites in low Earth orbit that would act as an orbital data center, using near-constant solar power and intersatellite optical links (with Ka-band as a backup) to deliver AI compute from space. The satellites would operate at 500–2,000 km with 30-degree and sun-synchronous inclinations to maximize sun exposure; SpaceX says the system could reduce terrestrial data-center costs and environmental impact while enabling rapid AI processing, though the filing provides few technical details and seeks waivers from usual deployment milestones with no schedule or price disclosed. The plan aligns with SpaceX’s AI ambitions and broader corporate moves, including IPO considerations and potential ties to xAI.

via SpaceNews|

#ai-compute #business #megaconstellations

space5 months ago•4 min saved

Solar Storms Could Collapse LEO Satellite Web in Days

New analysis warns that solar storms could trigger a rapid, near-term collapse of Earth’s LEO satellite mega-constellations if command-and-control for avoidance is lost. The study introduces the CRASH Clock, estimating a catastrophic collision could occur in about 2.8 days as of mid-2025 (versus 121 days in 2018), and a 24-hour outage carries roughly a 30% chance of seeding long-term debris cascades. Solar storms heat the atmosphere, increasing drag and degrading orbit predictions while possibly disabling satellite navigation and communications, leaving many satellites unable to dodge each other. Authored by Sarah Thiele and colleagues and posted on arXiv, the work argues for real-time tracking and control to prevent a “house of cards” collapse of space infrastructure, a risk underscored by the 2024 Gannon storm and the historic Carrington Event.

via SciTechDaily|

#kessler-syndrome #megaconstellations #orbital-debris

science-and-technology9 months ago•2 min saved

Global Efforts to Mitigate Space Junk Risks and Improve Orbital Traffic Management

China has been abandoning a significant number of rocket stages in orbit, especially with the deployment of new megaconstellations like Guowang and Thousand Sails, which could leave over 100 rocket bodies in orbit for more than 25 years, increasing space debris and potential hazards. Despite having the capability to deorbit these stages, China often does not, contributing to the growing problem of space junk, which has accelerated in recent years.

via Ars Technica|

#china #megaconstellations #orbit-debris

science1 year ago•7 min saved

Vera Rubin Observatory Set to Revolutionize Astronomy with First Images and Global Watch Parties

The Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile, set to revolutionize sky surveys with its large camera and wide field of view, faces significant challenges from the increasing number of bright satellites from mega-constellations like Starlink, which threaten to obscure and contaminate astronomical images. Despite developing techniques to mitigate satellite streaks, the growing satellite population could still impact the observatory's scientific output, prompting calls for darker satellites and innovative solutions to preserve the integrity of ground-based astronomy.

via Space|

#astronomy-technology #megaconstellations #satellite-interference