As Skies Fill With Space Junk, Nonprofit Urges US to Pause StarLink Launches

In recent years, the amount of space junk orbiting the Earth has been steadily increasing, posing a threat to satellites and spacecraft. The rise of mega satellite constellations such as SpaceX’s StarLink has only added to the problem.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to space sustainability is now urging the US government to pause further StarLink launches until a solution can be found to mitigate the growing issue of space debris. They argue that continued launches without proper measures in place could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Experts estimate that there are currently over 900,000 pieces of space debris larger than 1 cm in orbit around the Earth, with millions more smaller fragments posing a threat to satellites and the International Space Station.

The nonprofit is calling for stricter regulations on satellite launches and for companies like SpaceX to take more responsibility for the end-of-life disposal of their satellites, ensuring they are de-orbited safely instead of adding to the growing space junk problem.

The US government has yet to respond to the nonprofit’s calls for a pause in StarLink launches, but the issue of space debris is a growing concern among experts in the field. Without swift action, the skies could soon be filled with so much space junk that future launches and space activities could be severely impacted.

It remains to be seen whether the US will heed the nonprofit’s warnings and take steps to address the issue of space debris before it becomes a full-blown crisis. In the meantime, organizations and individuals are urged to do their part in reducing the amount of space junk by practicing responsible space activities and advocating for more sustainable practices in the industry.