"'These proposals would not only have a disastrous impact on the science of #astronomy, they would also hinder the right of everybody on Earth to enjoy the night sky. That is unacceptable.
"The stars above us are a valued part of human heritage – deploying more than one million exceptionally bright #satellites would utterly destroy this and permanently scar the natural landscape.'"
"A start-up company wants to light up the night with 50,000 big mirrors orbiting Earth. Opponents say the mirrors could distract airplane pilots, mess up astronomical observations and interfere with circadian rhythms — the light-and-dark cycles that help people, creatures and plants know when to wake and sleep, when to bloom, when to migrate and so forth."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/climate/space-mirror-satellite-solar.html
From @esoastronomy's comment to the U.S. Federal Communication Commission on the #ReflectOrbital filing for clearance to operate an orbital sunlight reflector: “ESO expresses support for the submissions to the FCC by the global astronomical community and emphasises that the deployment of sunlight as a service will have far reaching implications to the #environment, and human health.”
Astronomers for Planet Earth statement on both the pending Reflect Orbital and @SpaceX 1M orbital data centers applications to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission: "A4E is firmly opposed to these projects, which compromise our field of interest, astronomy, and threaten the ecosystem and dark sky."
https://mailchi.mp/a3f870943c46/a4e-newsletter-q3-10346144
#Space #Satellites #SunlightAsAService #DataCenters #Environment #FCC
"Across regions and borders, cultures and customs, the one thing we share is the night sky. Access to the night sky is a crucial part of our scientific, religious, and cultural practices across the globe. Right now, one government agency has the power to completely alter the night sky as we know it."
https://astrobites.org/2026/02/26/reflect-orbital-ai-data-center/
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #FCC #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #SpaceX #DataCenters
"Two little-noted applications under review by the Federal Communications Commission would, if fully implemented, fundamentally remake the night sky. But the #FCC, the satellite regulator, appears to have fast-tracked approval without much of a pause to weigh the benefits of these proposals against the harms they could cause to life on the planet."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/02/27/satellites-light-pollution-spacex/
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #DataCenters
The U.S. Federal Communication Commission has opened public comment periods on two space licensing applications with very high stakes for #astronomy. And two leading organizations have issued action alerts with instructions for submitting comments. (Note: non-U.S. persons and organizations may file FCC comments!)
DarkSky International: https://darksky.org/news/two-satellite-proposals-threaten-the-night-sky-the-window-to-act-is-now/
American Astronomical Society: https://aas.org/action-alert-provide-input-fcc-proposed-satellite-systems
DarkSky International has issued a public position on Reflect Orbital (and 'Sunlight As A Service' more generally): "Given the documented risks, DarkSky opposes Reflect Orbital’s proposed project as currently conceived. Consistent with our position on satellite mega-constellations, we urge the #FCC to close longstanding regulatory gaps that allow satellite deployments to proceed without environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (#NEPA)."
It encourages sign-ons to its open letter to Reflect Orbital and its investors: https://darksky.org/news/organizational-statement-reflect-orbital/
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has sent Reflect Orbital a list of issues in their application that require a response by 5th January. The potential visual effects of their sunlight reflectors are partially addressed by this footnote in the FCC letter: "Please describe what steps Reflect Orbital has taken to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense/Air Force to mitigate impacts on commercial and military aircraft operations, including potential impacts to aircraft pilots’ vision at night, from reflected sunlight directed at the Earth’s surface."
Thanks to TerezaPultarova and @spacedotcom for focusing on our concerns about the possible impact of Reflect Orbital's planned activities on #astronomy.
Dr. John Barentine FRAS
Space Environmentalism
