Research
The increasing numbers of satellites could create additional orbital debris, which complicates satellite operations. Sunlight reflections and radio transmissions from satellites could disrupt telescopes, which could make it more difficult for astronomers to assess risks...
U.S. GAO, "Large Constellations of Satellites: Mitigating Environmental and Other Effects"
GAO is recommending that FCC review and document whether licensing large constellations of satellites normally does not have significant effects on the environment. … FCC agreed with our recommendations.
GAO is recommending that FCC review and document whether licensing large constellations of satellites normally does not have significant effects on the environment. … FCC agreed with our recommendations.
Stakeholders across the space industry should recognize the urgency of the need to organize and properly fund a vigorous program of scientific research in order to understand the global impacts of spaceflight.
Ross & Jones. "Implications of a growing spaceflight industry: Climate change."
Depending on the atmospheric residence time of material from re-entered satellites, each mega-constellation will produce fine particulates that could greatly exceed natural forms of high-altitude atmospheric aluminum deposition...
We face an existential crisis: Space is at risk of developing the equivalent of the ocean’s “drifting island of plastic.” Air, space, and light pollution now present looming environmental threats created by the launch of new “mega-constellations” of thousands of satellites...
Mehlman, Janka, and Sturza. “Averting Environmental Risks in the New Space Age.” Day One Project.
Treating space as the ‘Wild West’ frontier that requires conquering continues to incentivize claiming by those who are well-resourced.
With sufficient numbers of bright satellites, these stakeholders could be impacted as well and should be included in deliberations as LEOsat deployment continues.
Large low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations pose significant environmental challenges, including increased risks of orbital collisions, atmospheric pollution from rocket exhaust and demise of re-entering satellites, and disruptions to cultural practices and astronomy due to light pollution. Our findings contribute to the development of more sustainable LEO satellite systems, promoting responsible space utilization amidst the growing demand for satellite-based services in LEO.
Policy
In the absence of proper oversight, mega-constellations present a direct threat to our environment when they reenter our atmosphere in large numbers.
Letter from U.S. Rep. Mark Levin (D-CA) to Acting FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel
...astronomers are concerned that launching thousands of bright satellites into space, as the FCC has approved doing, will interfere with their scientific research.
Senators ask GAO to review FCC oversight of satellite constellations, Space News
...proposed satellites will dump millions of pounds of pollution into the atmosphere causing significant environmental impacts both in space and on the ground.
Media
Thousands of small satellites are being launched into the “lower orbit” of space... concern is growing among atmospheric scientists about how they may harm the protective ozone layer that shields life on Earth from dangerous radiation from the sun.
Thousands of satellites are launched into low orbit. It could harm the ozone layer.
The recent launch of low Earth orbit satellite constellations is creating a growing threat for astronomical observations with ground-based telescopes that has alarmed the astronomical community.
The impact of satellite trails on Hubble Space Telescope observations
[I]t is hard to imagine anything better designed to foul up the night sky. The satellites can be as bright as the stars you can see with your naked eye, and once the scheme is complete, there will be many more satellites than stars.
In early 2020, it was suggested that this alteration of the night, both for astronomy and the general public, might be in breach of U.S. environmental law, specifically the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Forbes: Is SpaceX’s Starlink Mega Constellation An Environmental Problem? The FCC Says ‘No’
This orbital refuse doesn’t just create navigation hazards for astronauts, it also reflects sunlight down to the surface, interfering with ground-based telescope observation...
Engadget: We're entombing the Earth in an impenetrable shell of dead satellites
“I was really horrified to see that number. You would potentially be seeing more satellites than stars for most of the population of North America and Europe. I can’t imagine my kids growing up with that.”
Scientific American: SpaceX Starlink Mega Constellation Faces Fresh Legal Challenge
“The issue of mega-constellations in astronomy is a serious issue,” said Patrick Seitzer, an astrophysicist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor who studies orbital debris...
Science News: New fleets of private satellites are clogging the night sky
The night sky is not talked about like a limited natural resource, but it is.
Washington Post: Elon Musk’s satellites threaten to disrupt the night sky for all of us
Chemicals released as defunct satellites burn in the atmosphere could damage Earth’s protective ozone layer if plans to build megaconstellations of tens of thousands of satellites...
Space.com: Air pollution from reentering megaconstellation satellites could cause ozone hole 2.0
However, critics have warned that the Starlink project, and others like it, will lead to light pollution - in the form of streaks that can already be observed from here on Earth.
Without significant, rapid, large-scale action, the night sky will likely be forever changed. Here’s what we can do about it.
How To Save The Night Sky From Satellite Megaconstellations, Forbes
Astronomers have also raised concerns about constellations on their observations of the universe...
The effect is similar to ground-based light pollution from lamps and other nighttime light sources, which effectively wash out the visual contrast of the night sky, making fainter astronomy targets more difficult to see.
Washington Post: A proliferation of space junk is blocking our view of the cosmos, research shows
But the astronomical community, which has spent decades designing and building sensitive optical equipment tuned to pick up the faintest of glimmers from across the galaxy and beyond, sees the same sight as a menacing threat to their enterprise.
SpaceX’s cheap internet could cost us the night sky, Popular Science
When we launch dozens of satellites every few weeks, we remove the environment's ability to inform us of the unitended consequences of our actions and we cannot preduct what the dynamic equilibrium state actually is.
The Case for Space Environmentalis, Andy Lawrence