Connecting the world – but at what cost? 🛰️🌍

Satellite internet is a game-changer for rural and underserved regions, where traditional infrastructure falls short. Almost 10,000 Starlink satellites are already in orbit, delivering fast internet to places that were previously offline. That’s progress.

But here’s the catch: Every day, one to two of these satellites re-enter the atmosphere and burn up. If other mega-constellations launch as planned, we could soon see five satellites crashing back to Earth daily. The aluminum oxide released could alter the upper atmosphere and even impact the ozone layer by 2040.

We’re solving one problem—digital divide—while creating another: a new layer of atmospheric pollution. And with plans for 30,000+ satellites, the risk of a Kessler Syndrome (a cascading collision chain) grows every day.

How do we balance global connectivity with the health of our planet?

tl;dr: Satellite internet bridges gaps, but 5 daily crashes risk our atmosphere. Progress or problem? #DigitalDivide #SpaceDebris #SustainableTech

For more insights, check out the full article (in German).