Too Many Satellites? Earth’s Orbit Is on Track for a Catastrophe – but We Can Stop It

Too many satellites? Earth’s orbit is on track for a catastrophe – but we can stop it

Astronomer's view of a star obscured by streaks from Starlink satellites. Rafael Schmall/Wikimedia Commons, CC BYOn January 30 2026, SpaceX filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission for a megaconstellation of up to one million satellites to power data centres in space. The proposal envisions satellites operating between 500 and 2,000 kilometres in low Earth orbit. Some of the orbits are designed for near-constant exposur…

FCC Appears to Want to Move Fast on Orbiting Data Centers, Experts Say

The SpaceX and Starcloud applications for orbital data center constellations now before the FCC Space Bureau involve novel operations in space that the agency hasn't seen before, as well as a massive number of satellites. But space law and policy...

SpaceX's Ambitious Plan for 1 Million Satellites Faces Growing Environmental Criticism

SpaceX’s ambitious plan to deploy one million satellites into Earth’s orbit has stirred significant controversy, especially from environmental and astronomical groups. DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to combating light pollution, has launched a vigorous campaign to oppose the proposal. According to DarkSky, the large-scale deployment threatens to permanently alter the night sky. The group’s concerns, voiced through public petiti…