"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."
Space Environmentalism
@space_environmentalism
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The Center for Space Environmentalism (CSE) increases awareness and understanding of space environmentalism issues and helps stakeholders make better decisions about them by pursuing research, education, outreach and advocacy. https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org #Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism
"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.
CSE's John Barentine: "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."
"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."
"As of today, more than 10,000 active #Starlink #satellites are in #space, constituting about two thirds of all satellites that are currently in orbit. That’s a number that would have seemed unbelievable just a decade ago. 'Starlink has changed our relationship with space,' says Hugh Lewis, a space debris expert at the University of Birmingham in England. 'The character of the night sky is no longer the same as it once was, and I’m not sure it will ever be again.'"
"'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.
"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.
"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
