Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites may cause Ozone layer harm, warns study

Researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) have raised concerns that internet satellite networks, including Elon Musk’s Starlink, might be harming the Earth’s ozone layer. The warning stems from studies conducted by the USC’s Department of Astronautical Engineering.

The researchers indicate that the surge in low-earth orbit satellites could trigger harmful chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Specifically, a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters shows that SpaceX’s Starlink satellites emit significant amounts of aluminium oxide gas, which could deplete the ozone layer.