A coalition of environmental and scientific organizations is urging the Federal Communications Commission to halt licensing for space-based data center projects until federal environmental reviews are conducted, citing concerns over orbital debris, atmospheric pollution, and night-sky degradation.
What Happened
The groups, represented by the nonprofit Earthjustice, filed a petition with the FCC on July 8 demanding the agency stop granting licenses for orbiting data centers without first assessing their environmental impacts. The coalition points to proposals from multiple companies seeking to place more than a million new satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). SpaceX's submission alone requests authorization for up to one million satellites, according to the filing. Currently, approximately 15,000 active satellites and 46,000 tracked objects occupy Earth orbit—a number already projected to grow to 58,000 largely due to SpaceX's Starlink megaconstellation. The organizations argue that no environmental review has been required for these licensing requests.
Why It Matters
The potential consequences extend across multiple domains. Orbital collisions could generate debris that increases collision risks for other spacecraft, including operational satellites and the International Space Station. Rocket launches contribute greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, while satellite reentry releases heavy metals when vehicles burn up in Earth's air. The National Wildlife Federation warns that increased light pollution disrupts wildlife behaviors, affecting migration patterns and feeding schedules—impacts that would intensify with a million additional blinking objects in the night sky. Legal experts note that federal law requires agencies to consider environmental risks before authorizing such projects.
The Bottom Line
The FCC has not yet required environmental review for satellite licensing in LEO. The coalition is asking the agency to complete such assessments before granting further data-center licenses. "Allowing a million orbiting data centers with no environmental review isn't just irresponsible—it's reckless," said Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.