#kesslereffect — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #kesslereffect, aggregated by home.social.
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#SpaceX gets #FCC approval to launch 7,500 more #Starlink #satellites😱
by Anthony Ha
Sat, January 10, 2026Excerpt: "The Federal Communications Commission announced Friday that it has given SpaceX approval to launch another 7,500 of its second-generation Starlink satellites, for a total of 15,000 satellites worldwide.
"Beyond simply allowing SpaceX to launch more satellites and expand its high-speed internet coverage, the FCC says its decision also means Starlink satellites can operate across five frequencies to provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States, along with supplemental coverage in the U.S.
"Reuters reports that SpaceX had requested approval for an additional 15,000 satellites, but the FCC said it would 'defer authorization of the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites.'
"SpaceX must launch 50% of the approved Starlink satellites by December 1, 2028, and the remaining 50% by December 2031, the FCC says."
Read more:
https://tech.yahoo.com/science/articles/spacex-gets-fcc-approval-launch-221121996.html#KesslerSyndrome #SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution -
This will guarantee #KesslerSyndrome sooner than later!😱
As #SpaceX Works Toward 50K #Starlink Satellites, #China Eyes Deploying 200K
China's Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation submits filings for two constellations, each of which could support 96,714 satellites, for a total of 193,428.
Michael Kan, January 12, 2026
Excerpt: "To counter China, the FCC has been expediting and streamlining its satellite approvals. This includes clearing SpaceX to operate another 7,500 satellites for its second-generation constellation. The regulator has also approved plans to operate Starlink satellites at lower orbits, from 340km to 485km. Currently, Starlink has over 9,400 orbiting satellites."
#SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution -
Well, I think this is a hyperbole -- there will still be coax (axe/coax?) and fiber and good ol' landlines. Of course, #ElonMusk is trying to cut subsidies to those projects to divert money to #Starlink access!
#KesslerSyndrome: Space debris may create a future with no internet, TV, or mobile phone
By Quamrul Haider, 19 January 2025
Excerpt: "If, indeed, satellites collide or go offline because of overcrowded LEO, critical services like internet, navigation (GPS), weather forecasts, cell phones, television and other space-based technologies could fail. Needless to say, this will cause widespread disruption to modern life. Imagine life without social media!"
#KesslerEffect #Starlink #LEO #DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution
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I guess that would put a wrench into #BAU (#BusinessAsUsual), eh?
How Dangerous Would a #KesslerSyndrome Be for Satellites?
By Matthias Binder, M.Sc., July 28, 2025
"The sheer number of satellites orbiting Earth today is truly staggering. According to the European Space Agency, there are over 10,000 active and inactive satellites circling our planet, a number that has more than doubled in the past five years. The launch of mega-constellations, like #SpaceX’s Starlink, has poured thousands of new objects into #LowEarthOrbit (#LEO), making it a busy and hazardous neighborhood. This crowding means that even a single collision could set off a disastrous chain reaction. The buildup of #SpaceJunk is not just a minor inconvenience—it’s a ticking time bomb. As one NASA engineer put it recently, 'We’re reaching a point of no return if we don’t act soon.' The risk is not hypothetical; it’s a growing, daily concern for satellite operators worldwide.
Understanding the Kessler Syndrome Phenomenon
"Kessler Syndrome is a chilling scenario where space debris collides, creating more debris in a runaway cascade. First described by NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler in 1978, this theoretical chain reaction would make certain orbits so littered with debris that satellites could no longer operate safely. In recent interviews, space experts warn that every new collision increases the risk of triggering such a syndrome. The latest studies from 2024 highlight that the density of objects in popular orbits is fast approaching critical thresholds. 'It’s like a cosmic traffic jam,' one astrophysicist said, 'except every fender bender makes the road even more dangerous.' This phenomenon isn’t just science fiction—it’s a looming threat that could upend modern life.
What Happens During a Debris Cascade?
"When two objects collide in orbit, the result is a spray of thousands of new fragments. Each of these fragments can travel at speeds greater than 27,000 kilometers per hour. Even something as small as a paint fleck has the potential to puncture or destroy a satellite at these velocities. The U.S. Space Surveillance Network is currently tracking more than 36,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters, but the real number of smaller, untrackable fragments is believed to be in the millions. The more debris there is, the higher the chance that satellites will be hit, creating even more debris. This is the catastrophic feedback loop that defines Kessler Syndrome, and the consequences are almost impossible to contain once it begins.
"Satellites form the backbone of today’s global communications, navigation, and weather monitoring. A significant increase in debris would put all of these services at risk. The International Space Station has had to maneuver multiple times in the past year to avoid potential collisions with debris, and commercial satellites have reported dozens of close calls. A sudden #DebrisCascade could render some orbits completely unusable, especially in low Earth orbit, where most satellites operate. Operators would face higher insurance premiums, more frequent maneuvers, and the very real possibility of losing multi-million-dollar hardware. The threat is so severe that, according to the Secure World Foundation, some satellite companies are already reconsidering future launches into crowded orbits.
"The satellite industry is a powerhouse, with a market value exceeding $400 billion. If Kessler Syndrome were triggered, the immediate cost of lost satellites could run into the tens of billions. But the real financial blow would come from the collapse of satellite-dependent industries. Think about GPS navigation, financial transactions, television, and disaster forecasting—all could be crippled. Insurance companies are already hiking premiums for satellites operating in high-risk orbits. A major debris event could cause a ripple effect, leading to job losses and economic instability in sectors that rely on reliable satellite data. As one economist recently said, 'A single catastrophic event in space could shatter global markets overnight.' "
Read more:
https://climatecosmos.com/climate-news/how-dangerous-would-a-kessler-syndrome-be-for-satellites/#KesslerEffect #GrindingHalt #GPS #Satellites #LandLines #Fiber
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Keep creating #SpaceJunk, #Elon! Maybe it's time to send up the #SpaceJanitors, eh?
The #KesslerSyndrome: Crisis in Space Intensifies as Thousands of Satellites Crowd Earth Orbit
by Micah Hanks, May 8, 2025
Excerpt: "Welcome to this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief… as #SpaceX’s Starlink constellation continues to raise the number of operational satellites in orbit, scientists are raising alarms about the growing threat of #SpaceDebris. In our analysis this week, we’ll be looking at 1) the potential onset of the Kessler Syndrome, 2) how a cascading chain reaction of orbital collisions could jeopardize #satellites, #SpaceStations, and critical infrastructure in space, and 3) what space agencies like NASA and the ESA are doing to mitigate risks through debris removal missions and stricter deorbiting guidelines, amid concerns over whether current efforts will be enough to prevent orbital chaos."
#Satellites #SpacePollution #KesslerEffect #Starlink #DeadSatellites #DarkSkies