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   Instrument_Data (instrument_data@livellosegreto.it)'s status on Tuesday, 22-Oct-2024 07:35:38 JST Instrument_Data

   • Prof. Sam Lawler
   • Waiting for the Tide

   @Nichelle
   All starlink satellites are in low orbit and will deorbit by themselves, they can orbit at most for ten years or so.

   I wonder why this is never said.
   @sundogplanets

   • Embed this notice
     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 01:54:59 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     After absurd travel, I am back at home after advocating to anyone who would listen at the UNOOSA workshop for fewer satellites with longer operational lifetimes. I had a lot of great chats and got my point across very well. But I also saw the frantic pace of future sat launches.

     As we turned onto my rural road, and I finally saw my gorgeous prairie skies again, what was there to greet me? A FUCKING STARLINK TRAIN. I can't express how angry that made me.

     I will keep fighting. I have to.

   • Embed this notice
     John Abbe (aka Slow) (slowenough@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 22-Oct-2024 07:35:33 JST John Abbe (aka Slow)

     in reply to

     • Prof. Sam Lawler
     • Waiting for the Tide

     @Instrument_Data @sundogplanets @Nichelle Bezos will be able to start launching his system maybe next year, and then yeah at *least* China will have their own.

     We need agreements. Use current understandings and some best guesses, adjust as research comes in. Dark skies, collisions, satellite servicing/retirement, etc. It could be an uplifting international, public/private conference, if done well.

     Relevant: Jesse Kate Shingler did a great talk on the commons in space. https://www.ted.com/talks/jessy_kate_schingler_civilization_on_the_moon_and_what_it_means_for_life_on_earth

   • Embed this notice
     Instrument_Data (instrument_data@livellosegreto.it)'s status on Tuesday, 22-Oct-2024 07:35:34 JST Instrument_Data

     in reply to

     • Prof. Sam Lawler
     • John Abbe (aka Slow)
     • Waiting for the Tide

     @slowenough
     Yeah the pollution can be a problem, and SpaceX will not be the only one, other nations will follow.
     @sundogplanets @Nichelle

     Waiting for the Tide repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     John Abbe (aka Slow) (slowenough@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 22-Oct-2024 07:35:35 JST John Abbe (aka Slow)

     in reply to

     • Prof. Sam Lawler
     • Waiting for the Tide

     @Instrument_Data @sundogplanets @Nichelle Yes, they are built to deorbit on a relatively few years. And break up in the atmosphere, releasing a lot of particulate materials. In the quantities we're now talking about this is likely to affect the ozone layer, among other things.

     It's being studied now, but it would be smart for SpaceX to start making plans now for how satellites can be deorbitted less destructively, maybe even reused!

   • Embed this notice
     Instrument_Data (instrument_data@livellosegreto.it)'s status on Tuesday, 22-Oct-2024 07:35:36 JST Instrument_Data

     in reply to

     • Prof. Sam Lawler
     • Waiting for the Tide

     @sundogplanets
     I only found info about the starlink satellites being in low orbit.

     Maybe there are other in higher orbits but I found no info about that.
     @Nichelle

   • Embed this notice
     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 22-Oct-2024 07:35:37 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     • Waiting for the Tide

     @Instrument_Data @Nichelle Perhaps because it isn't true.