Low Orbit Satellite Companies Respond to Scientists’ Concerns About Light and Environmental Pollution With Even Bigger, Brighter Satellites ⇥ techdirt.com

Karl Bode, Techdirt:

Scientists say that low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations being built by Amazon, Starlink, and AT&T pose a dire threat to astronomy and scientific research, and that too little is being done to address the issue.

There are costs to suddenly widespread satellite connectivity. Apple’s partner in its offering, Globalstar, operates a constellation of satellites which would similarly be concerning to scientists.

It is a tricky balance. Adding redundant communications layers in our everyday devices can be useful and is, plausibly, of lifesaving consequence. Yet it also means the sky is littered with fields of objects which interfere with ground-based instruments. The needs of scientists might seem more abstract and less dire than, say, people seeking help in a natural disaster — I understand that. But I am not certain we will be proud of ourselves fifty years from now if we realize astronomical research has been severely curtailed because a bunch of private companies decided to compete in our shared sky. There is surely a balance to be struck.