1.7 Million Satellites Will Have ‘Devastating Consequences,’ Study Says
The peer-reviewed study says 17,501 satellites are already in orbit and warns proposed constellations could cut telescope field of view by 28%.
- On Wednesday, European Southern Observatory astronomers urged the Federal Communications Commission to block plans for 1.7 million new satellites, warning of "devastating consequences for astronomy."
- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk plans to launch 1 million satellites for artificial intelligence data centers, while Reflect Orbital proposes 50,000 mirror-like satellites to provide sunlight at night.
- Research indicates sky brightness could increase up to 28%, with ESO astronomer Olivier Hainaut warning that current proposals go "beyond the limit" of what astronomy can withstand.
- Betty Kioko of the ESO Institutional Affairs Office reported the FCC received over 1,800 comments regarding Reflect Orbital and nearly 1,500 on SpaceX's application.
- The global space economy is forecast to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035, yet astronomers argue Earth orbit should be limited to 100,000 satellites to protect observations.
16 Articles
16 Articles
If all the current projects of megaconstellations of satellites eventually emerge, there will soon be 1.7 million satellites around the Earth. A spatial concentration with potentially devastating effect for scientists, calculated the European Southern Observatory.
Observing the stars will soon be impossible for astronomers. While there are already a little more than 15,000 satellites in the sky, a new European study estimates the threshold not to be crossed in order to avoid damaging the study of the stars. Yet, more than 1.7 million are planned.
Astronomers sound the alarm over Elon Musk's satellite plan: 'Damaging consequences'
European astronomers on Wednesday urged the US Federal Communications Commission to block a plan led by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to launch a total of 1.7 million satellites into the Earth’s orbit, warning that the use of so many extremely bright satellites—partially to support artificial intelligence da...
According to a study by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the current proposals to raise satellites to the so-called "low orbit" are beginning to go out of their way. Companies want to launch more than 1.7 million satellites, when since 2019 the number of satellites in orbit has already reached 14,000 (32,000 if there are "dead satellites" and other space debris). Astronomer Olivier Hainaut calculates in his study Large or bright satellit…
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