There’s a new corporate space race to provide internet access, and scientists say the lack of regulations could prove costly to both consumers and the planet.
In the past five years, the number of large satellites has increased exponentially, with the majority of launches being dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink. But concerns over space waste, atmospheric damage, and the potential for collisions have researchers across the world sounding the alarm.
In a recent letter sent to the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau, more than 100 researchers and space professionals demanded that the FCC better regulate the satellite launches or delegate the responsibility to a better equipped agency, noting that an estimated additional 58,000 satellites could be launched by 2030, with other proposals of 500,000 satellites to power the internet in the works. Currently, more than 6,000 satellites in orbit are owned by Starlink, about 60% of the total.
The letter explained the ramifications of that many satellites in orbit are unclear due to a lack of environmental reviews of space-related technology, citing the FCC’s “categorical exclusion” of satellites from the National Environmental Policy Act.
“This is a new frontier, and we should save ourselves a lot of trouble by making sure we move forward in a way that doesn’t cause major problems for our future,” the letter stated.
Samantha Lawler, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Regina, Canada, and one of the signatories of the letter, likened SpaceX’s proposed satellite plans to “burning up…one Ford F-150 per hour” in the atmosphere.
“There is a limit, and that needs to be regulated, and right now it’s just a free-for-all, just whoever gets there first,” Lawler told Tech Brew. “SpaceX owns two-thirds of all satellites in orbit, and they did that just in the last five years.”
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But the impact goes beyond environmental concerns. Lawler noted that debris from the ever-increasing number of satellites could impact other satellites used in daily life.
“If you have a whole bunch of debris flying around in orbit, then everything gets smashed,” Lawler said. “Weather satellites, communication satellites, spy satellites, telescopes, everything that’s in orbit will get smashed.”
As for the internet connectivity that Starlink’s satellites provide, Lawler said while she sees the benefit of this service, she cautioned against a sole reliance on one company for internet service, calling it “an occupation of orbit.”
“Some people will have internet access through Starlink—better internet access than they’ve ever had before, just because of their location,” Lawler said. “But the consequences for everyone else are huge: pollution and light pollution and possibly loss of use of orbit. If we go into Kessler syndrome because SpaceX has launched so much stuff up there, then nobody gets these orbits for decades.”
As someone who lives in a rural area, Lawler acknowledged the need for reliable internet access for all, but said there should be other options besides Starlink, urging people to demand more from the government.
“People are jumping on this because rural internet access is terrible all across North America, and I guess all across the world, but there’s other ways,” Lawler said. “But governments need to invest in that, and a lot of governments are saying now, ‘Oh, there’s Starlink so we don’t have to worry about this anymore.’”
Neither the FCC nor SpaceX responded to emailed requests for comment.