Falcon 9 breakup linked to lithium plume 100 km above Earth
Feb 24th 2026
Researchers say laser measurements showed a tenfold rise in atmospheric lithium after the uncontrolled 19 February 2025 Falcon 9 re-entry, raising concerns about debris-driven pollution and ozone impacts as launches ramp up.
- A Falcon 9 failed in flight on 19 February 2025 and broke up, producing fireballs over Ireland, England and Germany before debris struck Earth.
- A research team from the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics and the University of Leeds detected a tenfold increase in lithium around 100 km altitude after the re-entry.
- The rocket body was made of aluminium-lithium and a single Falcon 9 contains about 30 kg of lithium compared with the 50 to 80 g of daily meteoric metal input to the upper atmosphere.
- Scientists say aluminium and aluminium oxides from re-entering debris could interact with ozone chemistry and disrupt atmospheric aerosols that moderate climate.
- This study is the first direct link between a known piece of space debris crashing to Earth and a measured increase in atmospheric pollution.
- Researchers and some scientists are urging stronger regulation as growing numbers of launches and proposed large satellite constellations could increase falling debris and contamination.