Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

While natural metal layers form in the upper mesosphere due to meteor ablation, new light detection and ranging (lidar) measurements have found additional mass and elements are being introduced via the re-entry of artificial satellites. This type of pollution has unknown consequences for the upper atmosphere and ozone layer.
Image credit: Robin Wing, et al.

The upsurge in placing mega-satellite constellations is not only amplifying the concern over Earth-circling space debris. Reentering spacecraft and rocket stages may also be impacting Earth’s atmosphere, as well as increasing the risk of space waste hitting the Earth.

New research is underscoring how incoming “space waste” is injecting a considerable amount of its matter into the mesosphere and lower thermosphere – enough to cause concern for the Earth’s ozone layer.

Credit: CORDS/The Aerospace Corporation

Re-entry survival

The term space waste is contrasted with orbiting space debris. Space waste is identified by a study group as incoming human-made material and the resulting effects on Earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, there is a need, they say, for dedicated searches for space waste that survive re-entry, resulting in an impact here on Earth.

For full details, go to my new SpaceNews story – “‘Uncontrolled experiment:’ Study links harmful atmospheric metals to spacecraft reentry” – at:

https://spacenews.com/uncontrolled-experiment-study-links-harmful-atmospheric-metals-to-spacecraft-reentry/

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‘Uncontrolled experiment:’ Study links harmful atmospheric metals to spacecraft reentry