## Environmental Concerns Surrounding Orbital Datacenters
### Satellites Gone Rogue
Environmental advocates are urging the FCC to slow down on orbital datacenters, stating that the agency should not grant approval to constellations expected to exceed a million satellites without properly examining their effects on the environment. The legal representatives from Earthjustice, supporting DarkSky International, Environment America, and PEER, have submitted a complaint this week, requesting the regulator to create a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) prior to approving any of the pending applications.
### Let’s Take It Easy, Mate
The filing does not target any specific company. Instead, it calls on the regulator to pause the entire orbital datacenter initiative while they evaluate the collective impacts of proposals from companies including SpaceX, Starcloud, Blue Origin, Cowboy Space, and any other potential candidates that may emerge. The petition focuses on more than a million datacenter satellites attempting to enter low Earth orbit in the next ten years. It emphasizes that launching a massive number of satellites differs significantly from the small deployments observed previously.
### The Overall Perspective
The environmental advocates argue that it’s unreasonable to apply outdated licensing regulations to these new mega-constellations. “If ever there was a moment for a PEIS, it’s now,” asserts the petition, arguing that a comprehensive review would enable the agency to evaluate “the risks, alternatives, needs, costs, and impacts of this abrupt change in Earth’s exosphere” before deciding whether these projects serve the public interest.
### Concerns Above
With apprehensions regarding rocket launch emissions, harmful pollutants from burning satellites, potential ozone layer harm, space debris, light pollution, effects on wildlife, and disruptions to astronomy, the petition is a rallying cry. It also criticizes the idea of assessing these proposals individually, claiming they generate a whirlwind of compounded risks and environmental turmoil.
### Applicants Under Scrutiny
The petition critiques applicants for envisioning ambitious plans for orbital computing while being rather vague about the potential environmental repercussions. “They’re making grand claims about their initiatives as if they’re revolutionizing space,” it points out, “but they aren’t exactly eager to examine what their ‘epochal’ technology is doing to Mother Earth, science, the economy, or anything of genuine value.”
### FCC’s Framework Faces a Revamp
As the FCC reviews its satellite environmental assessment regulations, recognizing the swift expansion of the industry, it’s evident their current lenient approach won’t suffice for proposals involving hundreds of thousands or millions. Should they come to this realization, operators of orbital datacenters will face significant paperwork before their equipment can be launched.
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## Summary: “Experiencing a Satellite Storm!”
It appears we may need protective gear for the space competition, as environmentalists urge the FCC to engage in a serious discussion about orbital datacenters before we find ourselves overwhelmed by satellites. Discover the outrageous plans and more at [gadgetlad.co.uk](https://gadgetlad.co.uk).
