Until 2014, Facebook’s official mantra was “move fast and break things” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_fast_and_break_things. Mark Zuckerberg coined the phrase https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/move-fast-break-things-facebook-motto/; to emphasize the need for speedy, first mover advantages, even if such initiatives result in harmful outcomes. Apparently, his undoubtably biased cost/benefit analysis generated a net positive outcome, presumably for Facebook and everyone else.
Maybe not.
See, e.g., https://hbr.org/2019/01/the-era-of-move-fast-and-break-things-is-over;
https://leaddev.com/velocity/why-you-shouldnt-move-fast-and-break-things.
The lack of
guard rails, of any sort, invariably results in knowable and unknowable
calamities, that individually and collectively change the value proposition,
particularly for non-investors.
Just now, scientists are determining, without doubt, that low earth orbiting satellite constellations, like Starlink, have a real, quantifiable, and harmful impact on space and earth atmosphere. See: https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-reentry-pollution-damage-earth-atmosphere;
https://www.science.org/content/article/burned-satellites-are-polluting-atmosphere;
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/satellite-space-junk-havoc-stratosphere.
Low earth
orbiting satellites, like those operated by Starlink, are smaller and lighter
than prior generations of telecommunications space craft. However, operators must launch thousands of them
to achieve global coverage. Their close
proximity to earth and constant motion, relative to earth, require frequent
launches to replace failing and end of life units.
The
toxification of space and earth atmosphere occurs when launching satellites and
when they fall out of orbit on a downward trajectory toward earth, typically
after only five years of service.
Satellite launches release massive amounts of fumes, such as sulfuric
acid, into earth’s atmosphere. Individual
satellite vaporization releases a far smaller volume of metallic vapors,
particles, and aerosols, but the numbers add up in light of the number of spacecraft
replacing or augmenting the constellation, as well as units no longer in
service. Each first generation Starlink
satellite releases approximately 30 kilograms of material in its descent. Second generation satellites are larger and
accordingly will release a larger amount of particles.
The composition
of vaporizing satellites and other spacecraft includes aluminum oxide and trace
minerals that are classified as pollutants:
Letting these satellites burn up in the atmosphere at the end of their lives helps keep the quantity of space junk to a minimum. But doing so deposits satellite ash in the middle layers of Earth’s atmosphere. This metallic ash can harm the atmosphere and potentially alter the climate. https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/12/09/1108076/satellite-reentry-atmospheric-pollution/. See https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-scientists-link-exotic-metal-particles-in-the-upper-atmosphere-to-rockets-satellites/; https://research.noaa.gov/projected-increase-in-space-travel-may-damage-ozone-layer/
It should come as no surprise that Starlink, and their sponsored researchers and opinion leaders, seek limited, if any, governmental oversight and regulation of space activities. The Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 Chapter on the FCC, written by the newly appointed Chairman, Brendan Carr, https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf Chapter 28, 845-859, recommends a most friendly regulatory environment, including expedited processing of satellite launch applications. The Heritage Foundation previously advocated for the elimination of environmental impact assessment of space activities. See https://www.heritage.org/government-regulation/report/keep-environmental-red-tape-out-outer-space.
Elon Musk,
has singularly advantageous opportunity to influence governmental space policy in
ways that favor his ventures. In a prior blog entry, I predicted that SpaceX
soon will qualify for broadband universal service subsidies worth billions. See https://telefrieden.blogspot.com/2025/02/add-millions-more-to-musk-account.html.
Today, I
predict that at some future date, measurable, costly toxification of space and
earth atmosphere will be caused by known stakeholders who succeeded in
foreclosing research, harm assessment, and conservation. They probably will not
even incur the cost in the determination whether and how remediation is
possible.
Thank Elon
Musk for his service to our nation.
