Experts have warned that Elon Musk’s huge plan to send even more satellites into space could lead to a devastating plane crash. The world’s richest man wants to launch more than 40,000 SpaceX internet broadcast satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Starlink has permission to launch 12,000, but the company submitted documentation for another 30,000 in 2019. SpaceX already has more than 3,000 in the skies in operation, which have been a crucial tool for the Ukrainian forces fighting Russia. But astronomers fear that low-Earth orbit could be invaded by Musk’s satellites, and many others vying for a slice of space.
They say that an overcrowded space increases the risk of collisions, which would send a shower of debris over the Earth. It should burn up as it passes through the atmosphere, but even the smallest piece could bring down a planeaccording to Andy Lawrence, Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh.
“It’s going to happen at some point”he told The Sun. “There are so many pieces of garbage, something going to crash into a plane and 300 people will dieunless we are very, very careful.”
Professor Lawrence, who published a book called Losing The Sky on the subject last year, said he and others are not calling for a complete halt to satellite launches like Musk’s.
“Mostly I’m saying, for God’s sake, slow down, let’s do some proper studies, figure out how to do this so we can all share heaven,” he explained.
Astronomers have noticed a dramatic increase in their images being messed up by satellites. The Edinburgh Astronomical Society hobbyist group recently shared photos with satellite streaks across them.
The society’s president, Mark Phillips, told The Sun we could end up with a view of an “artificial sky” if things continue. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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