“So several times a year we’re taking these potshots at people on the Earth and fortunately so far missing. So far we’ve been very lucky, but it won’t last.”
Deorbiting Starlink satellites may not pose a risk to people, but Dr McDowell said they may still prove problematic.
Scientists are still trying to understand what impact this rate of deorbits might have on the Earth’s atmosphere.
The low orbit means they have more drag from the atmosphere. So to stay in orbit, the satellites need to spend fuel. That fuel runs out after a couple of years.