You might be surprised to learn that greenhouse gas emissions can have an effect on the satellite carrying capacity of low Earth orbit. As more CO2 and other gases are pumped into the atmosphere, they cause the upper atmosphere to shrink, reducing atmospheric drag on existing satellites. Junk and defunct satellites will stay around longer before re-entering the atmosphere and burning up. Researchers estimate that carrying capacity could be reduced by more than 50%.

Study: Climate change will reduce the number of satellites that can safely orbit in space

Greenhouse emissions are changing the environment of near-Earth space in ways that, over time, will reduce the number of satellites that can safely operate there, according to new MIT research.

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (news.mit.edu)