A simulation of the full network of Starlink satellites when their first 12,000 satellites are up - an additional 30,000 have been requested. While delivering high-speed internet globally is a noble goal, destroying ground-based astronomy, astrophotography, and even stargazing as a hobby should be reckoned with as extraordinary collateral damage.
A long-exposure photograph in the northern hemisphere showing satellites in the night skyAlan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images By Tori Bonidie and Magnus L'Argent, Published by Astrobites, 26 February 2026 Across regions and borders, cultures and customs, the one thing we share is the night sky. Access to the
Artist's impression of a Falcon 9 upper stage with payload in 2015. (SpaceX) By Robyn Schofield & Robert George Ryan, Published by Science Alert, 23 February 2026 Space junk returning to the Earth is introducing metal pollution to the pristine upper atmosphere as it burns up on re-entry, a new
The Falcon 9 upper stage re-entering the atmosphere above Berlin, Germany, on February 19, 2025. Gerd Baumgarten By Passant Rabie, Published by Space & Spaceflight, 19 February 2026 For the first time, scientists were able to directly detect upper-atmospheric pollution from space debris. On February 19, 2025, a Falcon 9
Long exposure photographs showed the Falcon 9 rocket debris over Berlin in 2025 By Georgina Rannard, Published by the BBC, 19 February 2026 When a SpaceX rocket failure set the skies aflame over western Europe last February, no-one was sure if the debris was also polluting our atmosphere. Now scientists
Astronomer’s view of a star obscured by streaks from Starlink satellites. Rafael Schmall/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY By Gregory Radisic and Samantha Lawler, Published by The Conversation, 18 February 2026 On January 30 2026, SpaceX filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission for a megaconstellation of up to one
Image by Getty / Futurism By Sylvain Biget and Xavier Demeersman, Published by Futura, 14 February 2026 A Russian spy satellite has broken apart in geostationary orbit, generating a cloud of debris and raising fresh concerns about the growing risks in space. Was it an attack? An explosion? Here’s what
Image: janiecbros/Getty Images By Raquel Brandao, Published by Earth.com, 12 February 2026 Earth’s crowded orbital environment has reached a point where space traffic collisions could occur within days of a widespread tracking failure. That compressed timeline leaves little margin to restore control before debris spreads and raises risks for navigation,
