How global warming could threaten satellites, according to new study

IFLScience

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Greenhouse Gases Will Reduce The Number of Satellites That Can Orbit Safely

You can think of the upper atmosphere as low Earth orbit’s immune system, and we’re damaging it.

Nature

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Greenhouse gases reduce the satellite carrying capacity of low Earth orbit

Anthropogenic contributions of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere have been observed to cause cooling and contraction in the thermosphere, which is projected to continue for many decades. This contraction results in a secular reduction in atmospheric mass density where most satellites operate in low Earth orbit. Decreasing density reduces drag on debris objects and extends their lifetime in orbit, posing a persistent collision hazard to othe…

News18 India

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'We Might Lose GPS And Internet': MIT Report Says Earth's Orbit Is Getting Messier

MIT's study shows climate change is reducing safe satellite operations in low Earth orbit due to rising debris. By 2100, satellite capacity could shrink by up to 82%.

Spiegel

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According to a study, the continuing increase in CO2 emissions also affects space travel. Because less space scrap is burning, more collisions with satellites are threatening.

Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

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Climate change could soon create a mess for orbiting satellites

Climate change is already causing all sorts of problems on Earth, but soon it will be making a mess in orbit around the planet too, a new study finds.

The Hill

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Climate change could be threatening satellites as they orbit in space: Study

The ongoing surge of greenhouse gas emissions in the near-Earth environment could cause dramatic declines in the number of satellites orbiting the planet by the end of the century, a new study has found. By the year 2100, the “satellite carrying capacity” of the most popular low-orbit regions could decline by 50 to 66 percent…