CAPE CANAVERAL, July 7 — SpaceX has intentionally deorbited and burned up 260 of its Starlink satellites over a six-month period ending in early 2025, a routine fleet-management move that is drawing fresh scrutiny from environmental scientists concerned about what happens when thousands of pounds of metal and electronics vaporize in the upper atmosphere. Each of those satellites weighs roughly 2,700 pounds, or about 1,225 kilograms. The total mass of hardware that SpaceX has turned into vapor: approximately 702,000 pounds, or 318,000 kilograms.
The deorbiting is part of SpaceX’s standard practice to swap out older satellites for newer models. With roughly 7,000 Starlink satellites currently in orbit, the 260 that have already been disposed of represent a small fraction of the total constellation.
But the cumulative effect of thousands of future disposals is unknown, according to environmental scientists raising concerns. When these satellites reenter the atmosphere, the incineration releases aluminum oxides, copper, and other pollutants into the stratosphere and mesosphere. Critics argue that those materials could alter atmospheric chemistry and potentially contribute to ozone depletion.
SpaceX has stated that the satellites are designed to burn up completely and pose no risk to people on the ground. The Federal Communications Commission is currently considering a rule change that would exempt satellites from certain environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The proposed exemption is part of a broader effort to streamline satellite licensing, but environmental groups have petitioned the FCC to conduct a full environmental impact statement. The 260 satellites deorbited over that six-month window represent a controlled burn, not an accidental breakup. That distinction matters because controlled deorbits are predictable and can be timed, but they still inject the same pollutants into the same sensitive layers of the atmosphere.
The FCC’s proposed rule change would effectively fast-track satellite disposal by removing the requirement for environmental review under NEPA. The FCC argues that streamlining the process is necessary to keep pace with the rapid growth of commercial space activity. Environmental groups have formally petitioned the agency to conduct a full environmental impact statement before exempting satellites from review.
The rule change is not final. The FCC is still considering comments and evidence from both sides.
The 260 satellites already disposed of are just the beginning. Starlink’s current constellation of roughly 7,000 satellites will eventually need replacement. If the FCC’s exemption goes through, the pace of disposal could accelerate, and the total mass of vaporized satellite hardware could grow dramatically.
