Greenhouse gas emissions could reduce drag in the upper atmosphere, leaving more space debris in orbit and making satellites more vulnerable to damage, according to new research

A new study finds that climate change is already causing all sorts of problems on Earth, but soon it will be making a mess in orbit around the planet too.

Climate change is altering conditions in near-Earth space, which could limit the number of satellites that can reliably operate.

A shrinking thermosphere means less drag, which could hinder the natural removal of space debris impacting satellites, as per MIT.

A new study from MIT aerospace engineers reveals that rising carbon dioxide levels are shrinking Earth’s upper atmosphere, leading to long-term consequences for satellites and space debris.The study,

Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, reports that climate change is weakening Earth’s atmospheric friction, increasing the risk that falling satellites won’t burn up completely before reaching the surface.

Greenhouse gas emissions are altering not just Earth's climate but also the environment of space. For decades, climate change research has focused on the troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere closest to the planet’s surface.