Space Environmentalism"A dramatic rise in the number of satellites on orbit is increasing the amount of space debris, posing a critical threat to the capabilities of America’s national space systems, Maj. Gen. Chris Povak, deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, said Monday. 'The future gets more complex, not less. More satellites, more debris, more competition,' he said."
"An array of man-made #satellites beam sunlight down to Earth. An artificial constellation of thousands of satellites illuminates the night sky. These scenarios might sound like science fiction. But between SpaceX’s plans to launch 1 million satellites as part of its satellite-based internet network #Starlink, and Reflect Orbital’s sunlight reflecting space mirrors, private companies could change the way our night sky looks."
https://news.northeastern.edu/2026/03/24/space-mirrors-satellites-sunlight-earth/
Thanks to Leonard David for covering our recent comments to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on SpaceX's 1 million orbital data centers and Reflect Orbital's "sunlight as a service" #satellite applications.
"Cyber security researchers are already using #AI to identify so-called zero-day vulnerabilities — yet undiscovered security holes in code — to alert operators and help them patch the problems before hackers could exploit them. But attackers, too, can take advantage of those advanced systems to find those holes more quickly."
"'The presumption now is that the application should be approved and that it should be up to the people who might object to prove that there's a problem of some kind. The fact that they have fast-tracked this application, which has potentially tremendous effects not only for astronomy but for the environment too, and to do so without engaging in a full environmental review, is worrisome.'"
"The Trump administration is backing off a rule aimed at stopping commercial #space companies from leaving rocket bodies in Earth’s orbit, a practice that experts say could threaten public safety and telecommunications. ... SpaceX and other companies, however, criticized the proposal, citing concerns that included its cost, and in January, the #FAA nixed the rule, saying the agency needs more time to research it. "
https://www.propublica.org/article/faa-trump-space-junk-safety-spacex-rockets
Amid Crowded Skies, FAA Kills Rule Aimed at Regulating Space Junk
The agency once said that pieces of space debris “pose a significant risk,” but the Trump administration has backed off a rule that would have required companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX to remove rocket parts from orbit within 25 years of launch.
Peter GutscheRE: https://mastodon.social/@space_environmentalism/116205780730907978
SpaceX plans to launch a million (!) satellites into orbit. Aside from the impacts on the environment ...
"This loss of the night sky, something that has guided humanity since the dawn of time and influenced culture, religion and science, would be immeasurable."
#SpaceX #SpaceEnvironment #LightPollution #alan #Astronomy #Space
"Most of humanity has a great propensity to think in the short-term, but generally, long-term considerations — air pollution, deforestation and emissions, for example — just aren't our thing. That's partly why scientists are deeply concerned about a recent #SpaceX proposal to launch one million #satellites into orbit around Earth."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/spacex-data-centre-one-million-satellites-9.7117772
ANALYSIS | SpaceX wants to launch a million satellites. Here's how that could impact us here on Earth | CBC News
Scientists are deeply concerned about SpaceX's recent proposal to launch one million satellites into orbit around Earth. Their concerns range from a loss of the natural night sky and our access to space, to the environmental impact on our atmosphere.
"The upper #atmosphere is in a fragile state, says lead author William Parker. ‘This shift is colliding with a massive surge in satellite launches, particularly from mega-constellations such as SpaceX’s #Starlink. The study warns that if we exceed orbital capacity, we could trigger 'runaway instability' – a cascade of collisions creating so much debris that satellites can no longer safely operate.'"
CSE has submitted public comments to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on two pending applications relating to the #SpaceEnvironment:
(1) Reflect Orbital's prototype solar reflector satellite; https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/actions/public-statements-and-comments/reflect-orbital-2026
and
(2) SpaceX's "one million orbital data centers" proposal; https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/actions/public-statements-and-comments/spacex-1modcs-2026
#Space #Satellites #Environment #Policy #SpacePolicy #FCC #PublicComment
Reflect Orbital (2026)
March 4, 2026 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 via ICFS Electronic Filing In the Matter of: Reflect Orbital Inc. ICFS File No. SAT-LOA-20250701-00129 COMMENTS OF THE CENTER FOR SPACE ENVIRONMENTALISM The Center for Space Environmentalism (CSE),1 an