Organized by a public curiosity group, 120 researchers have expressed concern concerning the variety of satellites in low Earth orbit.

Citing environmental issues, 120 astronomers and researchers implored the Federal Communications Fee (FCC) in an Oct. 24 letter to halt launches of web satellites like SpaceX’s Starlink.

The letter, which was organized by the Public Curiosity Analysis Group, additionally urged FCC House Bureau Chief Julie Kearney to analyze the potential adverse environmental and well being impacts of the huge projected enhance in satellites being disposed of within the environment.

Launches are growing

The variety of current satellites has elevated 12 occasions over within the final 5 years, with SpaceX alone launching round 60 p.c of them. And in 2022, the U.S. Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) predicted 58,000 satellites can be launched by the tip of the last decade.

Below current practices, to keep away from the opportunity of long-term defunct house junk, satellites in massive megaconstellations are positioned in a low orbit in order that they naturally deorbit after 5 years. They need to then get replaced by subsequent launches.

Such satellites have elevated world web entry. However the letter argues that unfettered competitors between a number of megaconstellations shouldn’t be positioned above attainable environmental harms.

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) despatched a letter to policymakers detailing related issues on Sept. 27.

More and more, researchers have flagged potential environmental impacts from satellite tv for pc megaconstellations — not solely in emissions from launches but in addition metals burning up within the environment when satellites reenter. The AAS estimated {that a} 42,000-satellite constellation vaporized on a five-year cycle would deposit at the very least 8,000 tons of metals into the environment yearly. And a research printed in June in Geophysical Analysis Letters projected that the continual disposal of megaconstellation satellites within the environment would launch practically 400 tons of aluminum oxide compounds yearly into the higher environment, which may considerably deplete the ozone layer.

Satellite tv for pc megaconstellations have already been beneath scrutiny for the sunshine air pollution, which might negatively impression astronomical observations and animal conduct.

Associated: Megaconstellations are altering the evening sky eternally

Environmental issues

The issue, says PIRG, lies in how the FCC categorizes satellites beneath the Nationwide Environmental Safety Act (NEPA). This laws requires an evaluation of any main federal motion that considerably impacts the atmosphere. In issuing licenses for satellites, the FCC has exempted massive constellations from assessment. The letter known as on the FCC to finish its follow of categorical exclusions for satellites, noting that the GAO discovered that the FCC “doesn’t have a documented cause” for doing so.

The FCC is planning to assessment its categorical exclusion insurance policies and expects to develop revisions to its present NEPA guidelines with the Council on Environmental High quality, which governs these insurance policies, by July 1, 2025.