What Happened
Activists Seek Comprehensive Review of Space-Based Computing Projects
A coalition of environmental and scientific groups has petitioned the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to conduct a thorough environmental review of orbital data center applications, citing concerns about the potential impact on the ozone layer, night sky, and stratosphere. The petition, filed by Earthjustice, argues that a comprehensive review is necessary to determine whether these projects are in the public interest and to address potential environmental impacts. The move comes as orbital data center developers, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, propose tens of thousands of satellites, sparking concerns about the cumulative effects of these projects. The FCC is expected to respond to the petition, which was reported by SpaceNews.