Mastodawn

BobReflected Feb 16

Prof. Sam Lawler

Too wound up to go to bed, so I just sent lots of emails to people hoping that they'll spread the word and get lots more people to write comments to the FCC telling them that orbital data centres and sunlight-as-a-service are incredibly stupid, dangerous ideas and should never be launched.

Instructions how to submit here: https://darksky.org/news/two-satellite-proposals-threaten-the-night-sky-the-window-to-act-is-now/

I don't think it'll actually make a big difference. But I do think it's incredibly important that the official record shows how many opposed this.

Satellite proposals threaten the night sky

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency responsible for authorizing satellite launches and operations…

DarkSky International

@sundogplanets can you submit comments if you are based outside the USA?

@tamsin
Glad you asked 🙏🏻
I’d like to know this too (I’m in Australia; we have a history of receiving US space junk - our continent is seen as entirely empty by some).

#spaceJunk #satellites

Prof. Sam Lawler Feb 16

@sundogplanets great, thanks, comments will be submitted!

@sundogplanets @tamsin As a Canadian I had the same question and have completed the registration process and will file my comments in the coming days. This is too important to ignore and at least we all have a voice.

Bredroll Feb 16

@sundogplanets thankfully, orbital data centres are both physically and economically stupid, they really wont happen in anything like the scale or time frames touted, they entirely ignore the cooling and orbital mechanics, a 1GW orbital satellite requires 1GW of cooling. nuts idea is never going to work

C.S.Strowbridge Feb 16

"Sunlight-as-a-service" was literally the cover for a Bond Super Weapon.

@sundogplanets Since this would affect the *whole world* and not just the USA, how do people elsewhere complain/campain about this kind of thing? And why does the FCC assume that kind of juristiction?

@1a1nC
Yes, exactly. How does the US FCC become the world’s space regulator? Another question: are non-US satellites & space-things also regulated by the US FCC? How is the regulation of ‘space’ regulated in general? 🤔

#space #spaceRegulation #USFCC #US_FCC

@1a1nC @sundogplanets

I imagine the best way (after this) is to write to your MP or representative to make your concerns known. Take it to your government! 👍💪

@1a1nC @sundogplanets @Su_G

Under international law, the US is responsible for US launches and US registered spacecraft. Outer Space Treaty Art. 7-8.

Under US law the FAA, NOAA, and the FCC regulate different aspects of spaceflight. The rough breakdown is:
FAA - Launch to orbit
NOAA - Remote sensing on orbit
FCC - Communications on orbit

In normal times, you'd want to complain to your government, who would talk to the US.

@jonpainterphoto
Thank you so much for the comprehensive info & especially that on who I should/ could write to “in normal times” - which, clearly these are not but hey, gotta start somewhere! 🙂🙏🏻

@1a1nC @sundogplanets

Prof. Sam Lawler Feb 16

@1a1nC You can submit a comment if you live outside the US. But yes, it's a really bad system!

You'll never make it as a tech bro …

The proper response is to identify a competing niche, and get governments to throw buckets of money at you.

In this case, if someone is launching sunlight-as-a-service, clearly everyone who isn't in their target market must be in the market for darkness-as-a-service. This would just need 58,001 huge satellites which could be positioned to block either the direct or reflected sunlight from the 58k Reflect Orbital bozos.

We've done extensive testing, and humans need regular periods of darkness, and sunlight causes skin cancer, so more darkness must better, right?

Any governments want to be first on board with this groundbreaking new idea??

Beatsowners Feb 16

@sundogplanets nice

Nu Modular Feb 16

@sundogplanets Perhaps a perfunctory gesture of addressing increasingly wasteful, overextended, duopolistic measures where multi-dimensional solves are required?..

Until we graduate the US duopoly, and vote in a middle democratic socialist to re-stabilize US sustainability?..

Perhaps that's where the most energy/resources should be applied.

John Q McDonald Feb 16

@sundogplanets TBH: I found myself hesitating to register personal information on a government web site, which means Turnip’s public intimidation campaign is working on me…

💩 merde!

Prof. Sam Lawler Feb 16

@jqmcd Yeah, that is definitely an important decision to make. Keep yourself safe first. There are definitely other ways to fight, like writing letters to the investors in Reflect Orbital: https://www.reflectorbital.com/press/reflect-orbital-secures-20-million-in-series-a-funding-led-by-lux-capital

Luna chan Feb 16

@sundogplanets The 1 milliion orbital data centers Musk wants would cause a Kessler syndrome cutting off access to space for everyone until it it decays out of orbit or is cleaned up.

Ram Prakash Feb 17

@sundogplanets what atrocities we have to put up with/fight against that passes in the name of technology 🤦🏾 This is what will happen if a handful of wannabe technologists with absolutely no idea of what they are doing get their hands on a a whole load of money with no governing bodies to rein in their madness…

Ram Prakash Feb 17

@sundogplanets from one side that want sunlight-as-a-service to red street lights to reduce light pollution. This is science and pseudoscience working at cross purposes 🤦🏾

https://www.euronews.com/green/2026/02/10/from-denmark-to-the-uk-why-european-cities-are-installing-red-street-lighting

Red street lamps are protecting light-shy creatures across Europe

The change in colour is part of a scheme to reduce the effects of light pollution, particularly on nocturnal animals.

euronews

Helenisenough Feb 21

@ram @sundogplanets thanks for sharing

it's B! Cavello 🐝Feb 21

@sundogplanets Wow, first I'm hearing of it!

@sundogplanets sent both and just in time! Thanks for all the work you're doing on this and for the easy to follow instructions.