Scientists demand FCC test environmental impacts of satellites

One hundred and twenty astronomy researchers on Thursday sent a letter asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to end the "absurd" environmental review exemption given to SpaceX's Starlink and other firms launching large constellations of satellites. The letter [PDF] notes that the FCC was advised in November 2022 …

[Pascal Monett]

"Presently, there are 10,855 objects orbiting the Earth"

Um, no, there are many, many more objects than that - but that's when you count all the debris.

As usual, we are going full speed ahead without any consideration of the consequences. That'll come later, when we see what destruction we've wrought in the search for money.

Then, like after the sinking of the Titanic, we will set up standards and international measures. But first, something has to die, otherwise no one cares.

[Persona]

Re: "Presently, there are 10,855 objects orbiting the Earth"

The Titanic is a bad example as everyone believed it unsinkable till shortly before it sunk. It was only with hindsight that the standard of lifeboats for all came into force. It seems obvious now but not then. Lets hope burning tons and tons of light alloys in the upper atmosphere will not lead to another case of hindsight. Unfortunately mistakes are the key part of learning.

[collinsl]

Re: "Presently, there are 10,855 objects orbiting the Earth"

You are factually incorrect. Most people did not believe it unsinkable. The vessel was marketed as "the safest vessel to put to sea" (or words to that effect) and some people may have incorrectly described it as "unsinkable" but it wasn't a widely held view until after the tragedy due to the obvious irony of the comments made getting picked up by the media and exaggerated.

The regulations from the UK Board of Trade specified lifeboats by explicit number based on the tonnage of the vessel (I.E. vessels of X size need Y lifeboats, whereas vessels between Z and A sizes need B lifeboats etc) with the maximum tonnage specified being well under that of the Titanic because the regulations hadn't been kept up to date.

[Catkin]

Re: "Presently, there are 10,855 objects orbiting the Earth"

All safety regulations are written in blood and, while I do not discount their overall validity, hastily written regulations often have unintended consequences. In the case of the Titanic, the regulations imposed in consequence led directly to the SS Eastland disaster.

By this I mean to say that equal evaluation should be given for any proposed replacements for materials of concern as well as balancing the wider impact of issues that curtail space activity.

[collinsl]

Re: "Presently, there are 10,855 objects orbiting the Earth"

> hastily written regulations often have unintended consequences. In the case of the Titanic, the regulations imposed in consequence led directly to the SS Eastland disaster.

So you're blaming the Eastland on the increase in lifeboats, and not on the fact that the ship:

* Was unstable when she was built, requiring modification including relocating heavy machinery to decrease her draft (which would have negatively impacting stability)

* Nearly capsized on several occasions before she actually rolled over, requiring the limiting of passenger number, the removal of cabins and the shortening of smokestacks, both before and after the Titanic disaster

* Had a hardwood floor in the forward dining room removed and replaced with concrete, and concrete was added near the aft gangway, adding more top weight to the tune of 15-20 tons

* Was designed to be a fast fruit boat and only to have 500 passengers aboard as well as lots of cargo deep in the hull

[Catkin]

Re: "Presently, there are 10,855 objects orbiting the Earth"

Acknowledging one (major and final) contributing factor does not mean denying other prior contributing factors. In this case, the legislation did not account for the impact of adding lifeboats and did not require re-assessment.

[Lotusman1]

Re: "Presently, there are 10,855 objects orbiting the Earth"

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU...

ASTRO-ARMAGEDDON IS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM.

IF Anything is Destroyed, as other pieces strike other objects, then the Number 10,855 INCREASES Exponentially! Causing Destruction on an "EPIC SCALE"...

And once Again the Number 10,855 means NOTHING...

I'm not a big believer in predictions, so pay no attention to

the Possibility and Probability of this Scenario...

[Wu Ming]

That the USA is one hideous and dangerous oligarchy should now be obvious even to the less informed. The real problem is the sheer amount of power needed to bing such gigantic level of carelessness to terms that we all share the same environment.

[x-f]

Not even to mention that SpaceX and the FCC are US entities, but the impact from both is, well, for the whole planet – polluting the atmosphere and the night sky.

[Jimmy2Cows]

Satellite burnup is small to the point of insignificant, when compared to the estimated 15,000 tonnes of meteors and space debris that enters our atmosphere each year, most of which burns up.

Source: Wikipedia

[Catkin]

Yes but these chemicals are man-made [spooky noises].

In all seriousness, it's a valid point but the concern is that these might do different things to the atmosphere. As far as I'm aware, it's currently unknown what they might do and to what extent but there have been a range of proposals based on small scale experiments and simulations.

It might be harmless, it might not and it might be an easy fix or it might mean weighing the environmental cost of every ton we send up.

[fishman]

Others

Starlink has shown the value of a constellation of satellites for internet access. More will follow that are based in other countries such as China so will be immune to any new rules the US or the FCC make.

[Lotusman1]

Then the Number 10,855 means NOTHING...