Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Happy Friday.
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Double-cat-lap-trapped at my desk again. Good thing I am very very slow at writing code.
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Oh! I forgot to add one last important bit to this rant. In the same document (linked above), SpaceX says basically "oh yeah, no big deal that we dropped a Starlink on Canada. But just in case, we're going to start reentering Starlink satellites over the Pacific."
I have seen ZERO evidence that they are actually doing this, and nobody is asking them to prove it. An awful lot of Starlinks have been observed reentering over land (like this one in Sept: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-space-debris-satelitte-reentry-1.7643516)
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
I'm very curious what fraction of reported fireballs on the excellent American Meteor Society website are now actually reentries. They often put notes on specific events when they are known to be a reentry, but I don't think there's a quick way to sort that...
https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/browse_events
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
That document where SpaceX admits to dropping potentially lethal debris on Canada is still publicly available on their website, which is also kind of wild: https://starlink.com/public-files/Starlink_Approach_to_Satellite_Demisability.pdf
They seem to think it's just a whoopsie and no big deal. But...it's actually a violation of Canadian airspace! And also, terrifying!
SpaceX is scary.
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Oh! I forgot to add one last important bit to this rant. In the same document (linked above), SpaceX says basically "oh yeah, no big deal that we dropped a Starlink on Canada. But just in case, we're going to start reentering Starlink satellites over the Pacific."
I have seen ZERO evidence that they are actually doing this, and nobody is asking them to prove it. An awful lot of Starlinks have been observed reentering over land (like this one in Sept: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-space-debris-satelitte-reentry-1.7643516)
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
I'll note that the Starlink reentry debris that SpaceX dropped on Canada in August 2024 (separate from the Crew Dragon Trunk debris dropped on Canada in Feb 2024), still doesn't appear on this database. And I think that's because the farmer contacted SpaceX directly, SpaceX had him Fedex the debris to them. As far as I can tell, the Canadian gov't didn't find out until I told them, months after it left Canada, so I guess that means it doesn't get to go on this chart?
Really wild stuff...
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
That document where SpaceX admits to dropping potentially lethal debris on Canada is still publicly available on their website, which is also kind of wild: https://starlink.com/public-files/Starlink_Approach_to_Satellite_Demisability.pdf
They seem to think it's just a whoopsie and no big deal. But...it's actually a violation of Canadian airspace! And also, terrifying!
SpaceX is scary.
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
I just had to dig this up for something I'm writing, so here's the UN's space debris database (which has mostly turned from "space debris on the ground" to "garbage SpaceX dropped on other countries"): https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/treatyimplementation/arra-art-v/unlfd.html
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
I'll note that the Starlink reentry debris that SpaceX dropped on Canada in August 2024 (separate from the Crew Dragon Trunk debris dropped on Canada in Feb 2024), still doesn't appear on this database. And I think that's because the farmer contacted SpaceX directly, SpaceX had him Fedex the debris to them. As far as I can tell, the Canadian gov't didn't find out until I told them, months after it left Canada, so I guess that means it doesn't get to go on this chart?
Really wild stuff...
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
I just had to dig this up for something I'm writing, so here's the UN's space debris database (which has mostly turned from "space debris on the ground" to "garbage SpaceX dropped on other countries"): https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/treatyimplementation/arra-art-v/unlfd.html
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Setting up an account and I have to choose from a set of HILARIOUSLY specific and personal security questions.
"What is your favourite monument?"
"What car do you wish you owned?"
"Who was the first person you were romantically interested in?"
???
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
New article from Smithsonian Magazine about how stupid Reflect Orbital's plans are: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/giant-mirrors-in-space-could-bring-sunlight-after-dark-one-startup-says-and-astronomers-are-concerned-180987781/
Features interviews with me and several of my excellent astronomer colleagues on the American Astronomical Society Committee for the Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment! Looks like Reflect Orbital has followed SpaceX's lead and stopped responding to journalist inquiries.
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
I have doubts about whether or not change.org petitions actually do anything. But if you need to do something small right now against space mirrors, a DarkSky International member set up a petition here: https://www.change.org/p/stop-space-mirrors
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
Have I mentioned how much I like Nicole Mortillaro? Great article, includes quotes from @JohnBarentine@scicomm.xyz (there were various good reasons why she didn't interview me for this one, but fortunately a lot of other astronomers besides me are really worried about Reflect Orbital's thoughtless plan)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/reflect-orbital-space-mirror-9.6947427
Reflect Orbital is stupid and will cause countless problems with no measurable benefits.
Prof. Sam Lawler@sundogplanets@mastodon.social
New article from Smithsonian Magazine about how stupid Reflect Orbital's plans are: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/giant-mirrors-in-space-could-bring-sunlight-after-dark-one-startup-says-and-astronomers-are-concerned-180987781/
Features interviews with me and several of my excellent astronomer colleagues on the American Astronomical Society Committee for the Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment! Looks like Reflect Orbital has followed SpaceX's lead and stopped responding to journalist inquiries.