Alert! Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites a THREAT for planes, can cause aviation disasters

Elon Musk led Starlink satellite network has made the internet accessible even in the most remote parts of the world. It has helped maintain communication in Ukraine amidst the recent Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, every technology has its downsides and it turns out that Starlink satellites can lead to some tragic consequences. Experts have warned that the vast satellite network in space threaten planes and can cause aviation disasters.

According to the Sun UK, Starlink currently has 3000 satellites already up in the sky, with a permission of 12000 more, which are scheduled to launch in the near future. Starlink even submitted paperwork requesting permission to put as many as 30,000 more satellites in the sky. Although this vast coverage of satellite network could help make the internet accessible in the most remote regions, it threatens to overrun the low-Earth orbit and risk collisions, resulting in debris falling back on the planet. Even though most of the debris would burn up, even the tiniest part could bring down an aircraft.

Andy Lawrence, Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh told the Sun UK, “There’s so many pieces of junk, something’s going to hit a plane and 300 people will be killed, unless we’re really, really careful.”

Also, earlier this year, it was revealed that Starlink’s huge network of satellites has the aim of enveloping the earth. These interfere with the constellations in the sky and make it difficult to observe them from Earth. The presence of satellites is not only making observing the sky difficult, but it is also forming a new phenomenon- Skyglow. According to space.com, the light of the sun reflects off the satellites, forming a new glow in the sky that affects skywatching telescopes.