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AkaSci 🛰️AkaSci@fosstodon.org
Jul 2, 2026, 8:15 PM
RE: https://social.numerique.gouv.fr/@irap/116816496426956301
"The rapid expansion of commercial and governmental space activities is leaving a measurable chemical signature in Earth’s stratosphere through emissions from rocket launches and satellite re-entries. The scientific community is calling for urgent, coordinated action to understand and assess the potential impact on the atmosphere."
https://fosstodon.org/@irap@social.numerique.gouv.fr/116816496573706198
Press Release: https://www.essc.esf.org/2026/06/25/pr-airl-whitepaper/
Paper at https://zenodo.org/records/20831147
#Space #Science
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Replies

AkaSci 🛰️AkaSci@fosstodon.org
Jul 2, 2026, 8:23 PM
From an article from NOAA in 2023.
"Scientists found aluminum and exotic metals embedded in about 10 percent of sulfuric acid particles, which comprise the large majority of particles in the stratosphere. They were also able to match the ratio of rare elements they measured to special alloys used in rockets and satellites, confirming their source as metal vaporized from spacecraft reentering Earth's atmosphere."
https://csl.noaa.gov/news/2023/388_1016.html
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AkaSci 🛰️AkaSci@fosstodon.org
Jul 2, 2026, 9:34 PM
Here is a graphic showing various planned LEO constellations.
Launched satellites: 12,529
Planned: 2,257,509 (some fraction will get deployed)
Most satellites need to be replenished every ~5 years, as they descend and burn up in the atmosphere, releasing ozone-destroying metals.
Astronomers have been screaming about their effects on astronomy, both ground based and space based and the potential for Kessler syndrome.
🙁
Sources:
https://planet4589.org/space/con/conlist.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09759-5
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AkaSci 🛰️AkaSci@fosstodon.org
Jul 3, 2026, 8:23 PM
@sundogplanets
FYI ^^^
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RaymondPierreL3RaymondPierreL3@aus.social
Jul 3, 2026, 1:26 AM
@AkaSci
The current use of LEO is akin to shitting in your own bed. It’s got to be curtailed.
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JungYulKim Dotcom Free PressNathanMurdock@mastodon.social
Jul 3, 2026, 2:49 AM
@AkaSci soooo, they are just going to begin studying this now?
Seems like the kind of study you would want to do before you begin the destruction of something potentially important.
I guess we have been messing about with something we have no comprehension of and are just hoping everything turns out okay...
You know, just like the Ozone layer.
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