Astronomers call for the FCC to halt all launches of satellite constellations
In a letter [pdf] sent to the FCC on October 24, more than one hundred astronomers demanded a complete halt of all launches of low-Earth satellite constellations until a complete environmental review can be done.
The environmental harms of launching and burning up so many satellites aren’t clear. That’s because the federal government hasn’t conducted an environmental review to understand the impacts. What we do know is that more satellites and more launches lead to more damaging gasses and metals in our atmosphere. We shouldn’t rush forward with launching satellites at this scale without making sure the benefits justify the potential consequences of these new mega-constellations being launched, and then re-entering our atmosphere to burn up and or create debris 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.
Under this premise, Americans would forever be forbidden from doing anything without first having detailed environmental reviews by federal government agencies. Ponder that thought for a bit.
The astronomers’ argument of course is intellectually dishonest and disingenuous, on multiple levels. It is more than evident that these launches and satellites will cause little serious harm to the atmosphere or the environment. What the astronomers really want is to block these constellations so that their ground-based telescopes will be able to continue to see the heavens unhindered.
To hell with everyone else! We need to gaze at the stars and we are more important!
What these Chicken Littles should really do is give up on ground-based astronomy entirely, and start building space-based telescopes of all kinds, and fast. They would not only bypass the satellite constellations, they would get far better data as they would also bypass the atmosphere to get sharp images of everything they look at.
Whether the FCC listens to this absurd demand depends entirely on who wins the election. A Harris administration might easily go along, shutting down not only SpaceX’s Starlink constellation (thus getting political revenge on Elon Musk for daring to campaign against Democrats) but Amazon’s Kuiper constellation as well. Such an action would likely exceed the FCC’s statutory authority, but that won’t matter to these power-hungry thugs.
Trump in turn would almost certainly shut down much of the administrative state’s mission creep into areas of regulation it has no legal business.
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In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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In a letter [pdf] sent to the FCC on October 24, more than one hundred astronomers demanded a complete halt of all launches of low-Earth satellite constellations until a complete environmental review can be done.
The environmental harms of launching and burning up so many satellites aren’t clear. That’s because the federal government hasn’t conducted an environmental review to understand the impacts. What we do know is that more satellites and more launches lead to more damaging gasses and metals in our atmosphere. We shouldn’t rush forward with launching satellites at this scale without making sure the benefits justify the potential consequences of these new mega-constellations being launched, and then re-entering our atmosphere to burn up and or create debris 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.
Under this premise, Americans would forever be forbidden from doing anything without first having detailed environmental reviews by federal government agencies. Ponder that thought for a bit.
The astronomers’ argument of course is intellectually dishonest and disingenuous, on multiple levels. It is more than evident that these launches and satellites will cause little serious harm to the atmosphere or the environment. What the astronomers really want is to block these constellations so that their ground-based telescopes will be able to continue to see the heavens unhindered.
To hell with everyone else! We need to gaze at the stars and we are more important!
What these Chicken Littles should really do is give up on ground-based astronomy entirely, and start building space-based telescopes of all kinds, and fast. They would not only bypass the satellite constellations, they would get far better data as they would also bypass the atmosphere to get sharp images of everything they look at.
Whether the FCC listens to this absurd demand depends entirely on who wins the election. A Harris administration might easily go along, shutting down not only SpaceX’s Starlink constellation (thus getting political revenge on Elon Musk for daring to campaign against Democrats) but Amazon’s Kuiper constellation as well. Such an action would likely exceed the FCC’s statutory authority, but that won’t matter to these power-hungry thugs.
Trump in turn would almost certainly shut down much of the administrative state’s mission creep into areas of regulation it has no legal business.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
“What these Chicken Littles should really do is give up on ground-based astronomy entirely, and start building space-based telescopes of all kinds, and fast. They would not only bypass the satellite constellations, they would get far better data as they would also bypass the atmosphere to get sharp images of everything they look at.”
Common Sense is dead, hunted to extinction by climate change maniacs.
How many of these experts, collect a paycheck, courtesy of the taxpayers?
I can’t wait until “letter signed by x number of experts” receives the same universal derision as Mittens Romney’s ” binders full of women.” I should live so long.
I very much want to be in the room when Jessica Rosenworcel calls Xi Jinping demanding China halt satellite launches.
Perhaps Elon just needs to send the FCC a letter attesting to the fact that this bears all the hallmarks of Russian disinformation, signed by 51 SpaceX engineers.
Wow those astronomers are also environmentalists and probably also climate scientists. Are they worried about the weather, environment, or astronomy? Or are they worried about Musk and X?
Wait a minute! Where in the scope of the FCC’s “charter” did they get the grant to control space flight. They can authorize the use of radio spectrum and that should be it. The U.S. Government was supposed to be kept in its boundaries and not work outside its box.
If we were still using the techniques of Edwin Hubble taking long exposure photos while sitting at or in the telescope, then a stray satellite or airplane would wipe out an hour or two’s work.
Now with digital imaging systems, my understanding is that the exposures are short (30 seconds?) to minimize the thermal noise, and the images “stacked” in post processing. Any image that manages to capture an airplane is discarded from the stack.
Perhaps these astronomers are the last ones using old technology and techniques?
(or please correct my understanding of how the images are captured).
They have been batting zero—crowded skies…rock-worshippers. in Hawaii….Areceibo
BillB,
Similar questions could and should be asked of nearly every department and agency in the federal government. In fact, one could challenge the very existence and/or authority of these various departments and agencies, as they are operating outside of the governing framework established with the Constitution.
The departments and agencies should have no power or authority themselves. Instead, if they must exist, they should serve strictly advisory roles to the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.
And now the astronomers can have telescopes launched into orbit much less expensively, precisely because of the efforts of Elon and his engineers to develop the Falcon rocket series. Bob’s right, and these 100 editorial writers really should be thanking Musk, and get to work proposing and designing orbital observatories.
“”Under this premise, Americans would forever be forbidden from doing anything without first having detailed environmental reviews by federal government agencies.””
Of course! The Left desires total control of, well, everything. My favorite example is from an amazing book: Nicaragua: A Revolution In The Family. Before the Sandinista Commies seized power, there were thriving Farmers Markets in large towns and small villages. Ranchers and farmers would bring their products to sell and barter. (Talk about farm to fork!) As soon as the Commies took over, no more Farmers Markets. Now, it was all the “people’s food” with strict rationing.
Control of energy and food goes a long way to controlling everything.
I wonder whether there would be a demand for a (say) $100-500K orbital telescope of moderate size that could be owned by universities or even serious private researchers? SpaceX already supports ride share programs for smallsats that might be adapted to cover such satellites..
Ray Van Dune: The answer to your question is a resounding “yes!”, if only our universities were interested in truly educating their students. Instead, most universities now spend this cash on DEI programs and on Black-, Women-, Gender departments that add nothing of value and leave their students ill-equipped to do anything but teach in these same departments or go out and be part of a rent-a-protest crowd.
Methinks that what these astronomers may actually be concerned about, is losing “their” telescope and any bureaucratic fiefdom they have built around it … and having to compete with their peers for time on space-based telescopes.
They won’t be so “special” in the academic/scientific/bureaucratic pecking order.
”Where in the scope of the FCC’s ‘charter’ did they get the grant to control space flight[?]”
Nowhere. Which is why no-one, including the FCC, expects the FCC satellite regulations to survive a post-Chevron challenge. It is also why there are a lot of conversations going on within the FCC about what to do when they are inevitably struck down.
”I very much want to be in the room when Jessica Rosenworcel calls Xi Jinping demanding China halt satellite launches.”
She should make that demand to Xi Jinping in person — in China.
Since almost all ground telescopes are now using ultra high CMOS or CCD digital camera sets they could just digitally remove the aircraft or satellite streaks in every photo Using the frame before and after to fill in the removed section.
Deep deep space photos will still be done by space based telescopes.