SpaceX removes almost 500 Starlink satellites from orbit in 6 months — environmental consequences are still unknown

Between December 2024 and May 2025, SpaceX launched about 500 Starlink satellites from orbit, which is approximately 2.6 satellites per day. These vehicles were de-orbited and burned up in the Earth's atmosphere as part of a program to upgrade and optimize the satellite constellation.

The mass incineration of satellites raises questions about the possible impact on the environment. So far, scientific data on the effects of such processes on the atmosphere and outer space remain limited and ambiguous. It is unclear how much combustion products and debris may affect the environment and the safety of further space operations.

SpaceX continues to develop its network of satellites to provide global Internet access, while focusing on managing orbital debris and reducing the risk of collisions. However, the need for large-scale decommissioning of old satellites underscores the importance of developing sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of spacecraft operation.

Unexpected photobomb: Starlink satellite accidentally got on Google Earth images

 

Starlink satellite was captured on Google Earth images during its flight over Texas

In an unexpected and rare case, a Starlink satellite was captured on Google Earth images during its flight over Texas. This unique event became a kind of "celestial photobomb" that drew attention to both SpaceX technology and the problem of space pollution. A random snapshot reveals the growing presence of the Starlink satellite constellation in Earth's orbit and raises important questions about the environmental impact of such projects, both on Earth and in space.

Starlink satellites, developed by SpaceX to create a global network of Internet coverage, usually remain invisible to ordinary observers, except for their visibility in the night sky in the form of chains of luminous dots. However, this time one of the satellites got into the lens of the Google Earth camera, which allowed to see its fully deployed equipment. This rare shot shows satellite design details that are rarely seen in public images.

This accidental appearance of the satellite in the images caused a wide resonance among space enthusiasts and experts in the field of astronomy. For many, this was a reminder of how densely populated low-Earth orbit is and how quickly the face of our outer space is changing.

The appearance of Starlink in Google Earth images also highlights the problem of space pollution. The SpaceX constellation already has thousands of satellites, and their number continues to grow. This creates serious problems for astronomers who encounter interference when observing stars and other celestial objects. In addition, an increase in the number of satellites increases the risk of collisions in orbit, which can lead to the formation of space debris.

Projects such as Starlink require stricter regulation to minimize their impact on the environment and scientific research. Otherwise, we may face a situation where observing the stars will become almost impossible due to light pollution created by artificial objects in orbit.

The US Space Force has announced a long-awaited contract for national security missile launches

On Friday evening, the US Space Force announced the conclusion of a long-awaited contract for the launch of national security missiles. The contract is worth about $14 billion, and it distributes missions between three leading companies: Blue Origin, SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance (ULA). This contract is known as "Band 2" of the third phase of the National Space Launch Safety Program (NSSL).

Contract Details

The contract is a fixed price with an unlimited delivery time. The missions will be distributed to launch service providers in batches over a five-year period starting in fiscal year 2025. A total of 54 launches are planned, distributed as follows: SpaceX will receive 28 launches worth $ 5.9 billion, ULA — 19 launches worth $ 5.3 billion, and Blue Origin — 7 launches worth $ 2.3 billion.

Program objectives

The goal of the NSSL program is to provide reliable and sustainable access to space to meet national security objectives. These missions include launches of sophisticated orbiters such as communications and missile attack warning systems. The launches will begin in 2027 and last until 2032.

The value of the contract

This contract is an important step in the development of the US space program. It confirms SpaceX's dominant position in the launch market, as well as opens up new opportunities for Blue Origin and ULA. The inclusion of Blue Origin in the NSSL program for the first time demonstrates the growing competition in the American space launch market.

DARPA accidentally unveils new rocket tracking radar thanks to SpaceX

 

The SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket

DARPA inadvertently invents a new rocket "radar" thanks to SpaceX.A routine test turned into an unexpected discovery when DARPA's atmospheric sensors detected something unexpected. — the result of the fall of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Listening to the atmosphere, a group of researchers from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) discovered unexpected disturbances caused by a SpaceX rocket plummeting through the atmosphere toward the landing site.DARPA's AtmoSense program aims to use the Earth's atmosphere as a global sensor, measuring acoustic and electromagnetic waves propagating through the atmosphere and trying to track them to a specific disturbance event that occurred on Earth. Thus, DARPA hopes to be able to track underground explosions or other threats to national security using signals detected in the atmosphere.

During the last round of atmospheric listening, the team used AtmoSense to study the sound waves created by controlled explosions in New Mexico. While carrying out this work, the team behind the program made an unplanned discovery after noticing something unusual in the sensor data.

"When the team studied the data, they saw a huge drop in the so—called total electron content, which puzzled them," he said in a statement. Michael Nayak, AtmoSense Program Manager. "Imagine that you have water flowing through a hose. It's a stream of electrons, and if you put your fist in front of the hose, you'll notice a significant drop in the volume of water coming out of the hose.

"After analyzing the data, the team was able to track the disturbance to the return of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which occurred on the same day as the test. "Then they decided to extract other data on SpaceX's return, from dozens of launches, to see if they could detect a similar drop in electrons," Nayak added. "This phenomenon is very repeatable."By using AtmoSense, the team inadvertently discovered a new method for identifying objects returning through the Earth's atmosphere, according to Nayak. The researchers behind the program will share the latest AtmoSense results during the upcoming virtual workshop, which will be held from April 15th to 17th.

The Falcon 9 is the hardest—working rocket in the game, with over 450 missions to its credit. SpaceX's Falcon 9 is a partially reusable two—stage rocket that launches payloads into orbit and then returns to Earth for a controlled landing, allowing its first stage to be restored and reused.