Satellites Are Falling from Space — And It’s Happening Faster Than You Think
Updated: Oct 10, 2025 / 09:23 AM CDT
Elon Musk’s ambitious Starlink project—designed to blanket Earth with internet from thousands of orbiting satellites—is facing a surprising twist. Recent data suggests that an increasing number of these satellites are making an unscheduled trip back home... by falling right out of orbit.
According to a new study, between one and two Starlink satellites are deorbiting each day. That’s not a small number when you consider that SpaceX has launched over 6,000 of them into low-Earth orbit as part of its plan to create a global broadband network. The system has provided internet access to countless remote areas, but now it’s raising eyebrows among astronomers and space agencies alike.
And here’s where it gets controversial: these falling satellites aren’t just space junk—they might signal deeper issues with sustainability in the new space race. Avi Loeb, director of Harvard’s Institute for Theory and Computation, joined Morning in America to unpack what’s really going on. He explained what’s causing the satellites to fall, and why this could become a far bigger headache for future missions and for Earth’s upper atmosphere.
While SpaceX continuously replaces decommissioned satellites to maintain its constellation, experts worry about the long-term implications of having so many objects orbiting—and eventually reentering—the planet. What happens when the number of deorbiting craft begins to outpace the company’s ability to replenish or safely dispose of them? Could the very innovation meant to connect the world end up cluttering the skies?
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But back to Starlink—this story taps into a much larger question about humanity’s rush to commercialize space. Is the dream of global internet access worth the growing risk of orbital debris and atmospheric pollution? Some hail it as progress; others see it as a warning sign.
What do you think? Are we witnessing the dawn of a revolutionary network for humankind—or the beginning of a messy, manmade storm in the sky? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.
