Elon Musk’s Starlink: Falling satellites, environmental disaster, night-sky polluter claims do not stop Space X from…

SpaceX, an Elon Musk company, launched 23 new Starlink satellites on February 11, 2025, from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking its 18th Falcon 9 mission this year. The launch created a glowing trail visible across the US West Coast, sparking social media buzz.

In an engineering marvel, the rocket’s first stage landed safely on a Pacific drone ship while the upper stage deployed satellites into low Earth orbit as part of SpaceX’s plan to expand global internet access stated the company’s social media handle on X (formerly Twitter).

Falcon 9 delivers 23 @Starlink satellites to orbit from California pic.twitter.com/NIVJSaMmzK

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 11, 2025

Over 6,900 satellites are already operational and the ambition is to reach 42,000 total in space. However, the sky-high ambitions have come in the face of mounting criticisms, threats to the environment, and night-sky pollution, all of which are yet to deter Musk.

Environmental Risks: Falling Satellites and Ozone Threats

In January 2025, over 120 first-generation Starlink satellites plummeted to Earth, raising alarms about space debris and atmospheric pollution. Despite SpaceX’s claims that its satellites burn up completely, scientists warn of hidden dangers.

A 2023 study found metals from satellite re-entries in atmospheric samples, linking them to a surge in ozone-depleting aluminium oxides, with studies suggesting unpredictable climate impacts.

Beyond pollution, SpaceX’s five-year satellite refresh cycle adds to broader space junk risks and researchers suggesting a 26% annual chance of rocket debris intersecting flight paths, potentially disrupting air travel.

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Radio Astronomy ‘Blinded’ by Satellite Noise

Newer Starlink satellites, dubbed V2-mini, emit 32 times more radio noise than older models, crippling sensitive astronomy tools. A report by Space.com, The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) in the Netherlands reported Starlink signals appearing 10 million times brighter than cosmic targets like ancient black holes.

Continued interference also threatens the USD 2.2 billion Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO), the largest telescope in the world, set to launch later this decade. As such, SKAO’s heightened sensitivity could make it eight times more vulnerable to satellite noise, jeopardizing its ability to study the early universe.

Night-sky Pollution

In another report from the Guardian, astronomers urged regulators to consider banning mega constellations like Starlink.

Experts argued that unchecked satellite growth, which has doubled low-Eorbit objects since 2019, could irreversibly brighten the night sky, causing massive night-sky disruptions, with as-of-yet unknown impacts.

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With SpaceX satellite numbers set to skyrocket, and Elon Musk boosting his plans for Mars, the matter is up for debate with no concrete solution in sight so far.