The constellation is self cleaning to some large degree because of their relatively low orbits. Satellites that die on final orbit have ~5 years before they've reentered on their own, and before they orbit raise right after launch, it can be as low as a couple weeks.

These orbits were an intentional choice by SpaceX. One of intentional effects benefits is to not contribute to space junk concerns.

That still leads to pollution though - and I'm not even mentioning the pollution from their launching!

SpaceX is using their satellites to accomplish useful things for a lot of stakeholders. They also get special permission to allow their satellites to descend to the earth at EOL. These satellites stop orbiting quite quickly after they're no longer functional - they don't orbit indefinitely.

Your litter in comparison would be a totally different kind of problem, and evidently, it is a problem at human scale. That's why there are fines.

Well, I'm talking about small litter like a banana peel, which lots of other Earth inhabitants will actually appreciate. Even if these satellites burn into the atmosphere, they still pollute with the fumes. Not to mention the pollution from the launch itself!

By the way, regarding the littering - I've been doing something I call "distributed composting." For example, if I eat an apple outside of my home, I just throw the remains somewhere it won't be an eyesore, but where it will decompose in no time or better yet - feed some animals or insects. But if a city employees catches me throwing "the litter" into the bushes, they will give me a fine for "littering".

You better try and fine the universe for dumping tens of thousands of micrometeroid debris into the atmosphere every day too!

Well, that's outside of our control - unlike Starlink's junk.

How are you (or anyone) harmed by this junk in ways that the universe doesn't already harm you?

Asteroids enrich our planet with elements and the satellites are already made from existing ones. I'm never gonna use Starlink and not only because it's super pricey, but because the idea is just stupid.

> Asteroids enrich our planet with elements and the satellites are already made from existing ones.

Well the elements from both arrive the same way.

> I'm never gonna use Starlink and not only because it's super pricey, but because the idea is just stupid.

It's cheaper and better than the competitors. If HughesNet and Viasat can serve customers, why can't Starlink and do it better and cheaper than either.

Not cheaper, no - SpaceX is doing a classical dumping and I'm not sure why the authorities are letting this fly! In general, Elon Musk got a lot of privileges from the government while acting as a Libertarian im words, not deeds! He is no hero!