SpaceX's Starlink megaconstellation raises climate and ozone concerns

Mega‑constellations of low‑Earth‑orbit satellites—networks of hundreds to thousands of craft—are attracting scientific scrutiny for their environmental impact. Around 15,000 satellites now orbit the globe, about 10,000 of which belong to SpaceX’s Starlink system. Launches use kerosene‑based rockets that emit black carbon, a pollutant that absorbs sunlight, warms the upper atmosphere and contributes to stratospheric ozone loss. Recent research credits megaconstellations with roughly 10 % of global ozone depletion and about half of the associated climate effect. If current growth continues, the sector could account for 40 % of space‑related atmospheric contamination by 2029, releasing an estimated 870 tonnes of soot each year.

On 19 May 2026, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, deploying the Starlink 17‑42 payload of 24 satellites. The launch was supported by multiple U.S. Space Force units providing range operations, weather analysis, security and safety oversight.