Will SpaceX's Orbiting Data Centers Rain Debris Over Earth?
SpaceX has assured the FCC that its 'Starmind' orbiting data center satellites will not pose a risk to humans upon re-entry. The company claims that any surviving debris will fall well below the kinetic energy threshold required to cause harm.
Why it matters
As satellite constellations grow, the safety of atmospheric disposal becomes a major regulatory and environmental concern.
<p>SpaceX already retires aging Starlink satellites by <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/260-starlink-satellites-burn-up-in-earths-atmosphere-as-more-head-for-fiery" target="_self">burning</a> them up in the Earth's atmosphere. But what happens when you try to disintegrate an even larger, orbiting data center? </p><p>The company has told the Federal Communications Commission that some debris from a disposed orbiting data center could survive and land on the Earth, but expects the fragments to be harmless. On Thursday, SpaceX discussed the issue in a 12-page <a href="https://archive.org/details/microsoft-word-space-x-response-ex-parte-clean" target="_blank" title="(Opens in a new tab)">letter</a> to the FCC after the Commission asked for more details about the "Starmind" satellites, and if they could survive atmospheric re-entry following disposal. </p><p>In response, the company wrote: "Based on this analysis, no portion of the spacecraft will impact the surface of the Earth with a kinetic energy above 15 joules: the Commission's limit under which a re-entering object presents no risk to humans."</p><div class="mb-0 rounded-md bg-gray-100 p-3 md:p-5" id="related-video">
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