© REUTERS / David Swanson
On Thursday has Elon Musks Pursue SpaceX his 7000. Starlink satellites sent into orbit. This means SpaceX is currently in control more than two thirds of all active satelliteswhich are in Earth orbit.
This emerges from data reported by the non-profit organization. Musk himself is also aware of this fact, as can be seen from a posting on X.
Active satellites
The relationship refers to active satellites. After several Starlink satellites have already failed for various reasons, there are currently “only” more 6,370 assets (As of September 6th). The total number of all active satellites is 10.345.
The second largest operator after Starlink is the British start-up OneWeb with 631 active satellites. Is in third place Planet Labs with 200 satellites.
In general, the number of satellites around our earth has recently grown extremely rapidly. That was just the end of January 2021 3,521 satellites active.
➤ Read more:
Light pollution
The high number of Starlink satellites also regularly causes criticism. Especially those Light pollution is repeatedly mentioned as a problem. The satellites interfere with the work of astronomers.
But also those Disposal satellite that is no longer active raises questions. At the end of their life, the Starlink satellites usually burn up in the atmosphere, as was recently seen over Austria.
➤ Read more:
Atmospheric pollution
However, components of it remain in our atmosphere, such as Tim FlohrerHead of the Space Residue Division at the European Space Agency (ESA), last explained. “These are mainly materials like aluminum, but also some types of plastic materials,” says Flohrer.
We simply don’t know what effects this could have in the long term. Flohrer compares it with that Microplastic problem in the oceans: “We are creating a microparticle problem in the atmosphere and do not yet understand whether and what consequences this will have in the long term,” said the ESA scientist.
