ESO Study Finds That No More Than 100,000 Satellites Should Orbit Earth

According to a study from the European Southern Observatory, Earth's orbit can safely handle no more than one hundred thousand satellites before significantly impacting ground-based astronomy and space operations. SpaceX's Starlink constellation, however, is designed to deploy one million satellites—ten times that recommended ceiling. The gulf between what scientists say is sustainable and what the space industry plans to launch raises questions about the future of orbital management.

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