As if Elon has not already done enough damage:

Satellites like Starlink could deplete Earth’s ozone layer, study says

Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites could damage the Earth’s protective ozone layer when they are deorbited, new research suggests.

Mega satellite constellations such as SpaceX’s Starlink spew copious amounts of aluminium oxide gas in the atmosphere that could deplete the ozone layer, according to the research published last week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

SpaceX has launched more than 6,000 satellites and counting to beam internet, with each new model getting heavier.

These satellites are designed to burn up in the atmosphere when their service lives end, researchers from the University of Southern California say.

Aluminium oxides deplete ozone by causing it to react destructively with chlorine, the study says.

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Scientists are particularly concerned as the demand for global internet coverage is driving up launches of small communication satellites.

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“The environmental impacts from the reentry of satellites are currently poorly understood,” scientists say.

A small satellite produces about 30 kg of aluminium oxides when it burns up.

In 2022 alone, researchers say, falling satellites may have contributed about 17 tonnes of tiny aluminium oxide particles.

When all the currently planned satellite constellations are in place, scientists estimate, more than 350 tonnes of aluminium oxides will be released each year.

This is a whopping increase of nearly 650 per cent over natural atmospheric levels.

SpaceX alone has permission to launch another 12,000 Starlink satellites while Amazon and other tech giants also plan to launch thousands of satellites in the coming years.

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Seems like we are intent on dooming ourselves.