By the end of the century, a shrinking atmosphere could create a minefield for satellites, like those deployed by SpaceX's Starlink.

The growing release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere could pose a serious threat to the future of space operations, especially in low Earth orbit (LEO). A recent study published in Nature explores the potential consequences of increased emissions on the capacity of LEO to support satellite operations.

The continued release of greenhouse gases into Earth's atmosphere could increase the longevity of space junk in low Earth orbit, a new paper reveals. Under a high-emissions scenario, this could mean a sharp reduction in the amount of satellites that can safely operate in low Earth orbit by 2100 – putting significant limitations on what humanity can put up there,

MIT aerospace engineers have found that greenhouse gas emissions are changing the environment of near-Earth space in ways that, over time, will reduce the number of satellites that can sustainably operate there.