SpaceX's faulty Falcon spewed massive lithium plume over Europe, say scientists
The Register
February 20, 2026
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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket met an untimely demise over Europe last year, leaving behind a significant environmental footprint. A group of scientists has revealed that the faulty rocket released a massive lithium plume into Earth's upper atmosphere during its uncontrolled re-entry. This incident marks the first time ground-based lidar technology has been used to detect space debris ablation and measure pollution caused by re-entering spacecraft. The Falcon 9’s disintegration over Poland not only scattered debris across farmland but also injected lithium into the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT), with sensors detecting a tenfold increase in lithium levels at an altitude of 96 km just 20 hours after the event. Lithium, widely used in spacecraft batteries and structural materials, posed a significant risk as the rocket’s upper stage contained around 30 kg of the element.
The study highlights growing concerns about space traffic’s impact on Earth’s atmosphere. Unlike natural meteoroids, satellites and rockets introduce engineered materials like aluminum alloys and rare earth elements, which are now being detected in increasing quantities in the stratosphere. While daily lithium input from cosmic dust is minimal—about 80 grams—the Falcon 9 incident alone released a substantial amount of lithium into the MLT, potentially disrupting atmospheric processes such as radiative transfer and ozone chemistry. The researchers warn that recurring re-entries could lead to cumulative, climate-relevant consequences, with metal particles accumulating in the atmosphere.
Experts like Jonathan McDowell have long cautioned about using Earth’s upper atmosphere as an incinerator for space debris. As launch frequencies and re-entry events increase, the potential for long-term atmospheric pollution grows. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has already noted that up to 10% of stratospheric sulfuric acid particles contain metals like aluminum, consistent with rocket and satellite burn-up. This figure could rise to 50% in coming years as space traffic intensifies. While the Falcon 9 incident provides a breakthrough in tracking atmospheric pollution from space launches, its implications for climate and weather systems remain largely unknown, underscoring the urgent need for further research and regulation in the rapidly expanding field of space exploration.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/20/2026