Starlink Debris Risk Surges as Megaconstellations Multiply and Ground Impacts Grow
As megaconstellations push tens of thousands of satellites into orbit, researchers warn that debris reentries are no longer rare. A study estimates a 40% chance that debris from major megaconstellations could hit someone, with ground fragments already found from older Starlink designs and heavier new satellites raising uncertainty about complete burn‑up. In addition, reentries release aluminum oxide that could affect the ozone layer over decades, underscoring a regulatory gap that still evaluates satellites individually rather than by total constellation risk.
