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.
"The most unfortunate part of the Reflect Orbital proposal is how unnecessary it is. We already have solutions to all of the problems that it purports to solve, with none of the many significant consequences that an array of giant mirrors would bring to Earth. But sadly, the days of the 'wild, wild west' still continue when it comes to the environment surrounding our planet: low-Earth orbit."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/true-cost-solar-power-night-reflect-orbital/
It's Friday, which means this week's news can best be summarized as:
#news #currentevents #uspol #Politics #unitedstates #DirtbagDon #Trump #GOP #fascism #NobelPrize #3i #wtf #nationalguard #corruption #batfuckinsane #sunlightasaservice #technology #techbros #tech #usmilitary #middleeast #violence
