Recent scientific research suggests that bringing Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites into the Earth’s atmosphere could harm the planet’s ozone layer.

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Researchers from the University of Southern California have suggested that internet satellite networks, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, may be causing depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer. Their study indicates that SpaceX’s Starlink satellites release large amounts of aluminum oxide gas into the atmosphere, potentially posing a threat to the ozone layer.

Did you know that there are currently over 8,000 internet satellites in low-earth orbit? SpaceX has launched more than 6,000 of these satellites to provide internet service, and they keep getting bigger and heavier with each new model. Researchers from the University of Southern California have found that when these satellites reach the end of their service life, they are designed to burn up in the atmosphere. However, this process releases aluminum oxides that can deplete the ozone layer by triggering destructive reactions with chlorine.

The ozone layer plays a vital role in protecting life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Without this protection, there could be a significant increase in skin cancer rates and potential disruptions in crop yields and food production. Moreover, SpaceX has been granted permission to launch an additional 42,000 Starlink satellites, and other major tech companies like Amazon and Reliance (Jio) also have plans to launch thousands of satellites in the near future.