SpaceX's 1 million satellites could avoid environmental checks
New Scientist
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
SpaceX’s ambitious plan to launch a constellation of 1 million satellites has sparked significant concern among astronomers and environmentalists. The company, led by Elon Musk, aims to deploy these satellites as orbital data centers for artificial intelligence, but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is not required to assess their potential environmental impact under current regulations. This exemption raises questions about the long-term effects on Earth’s atmosphere, astronomical observations, and the night sky. With only 14,500 active satellites currently in orbit, SpaceX’s proposal would dramatically increase the number of objects in space, potentially leading to severe disruptions for both scientific research and the environment.
Astronomers warn that such a massive constellation could render tens of thousands of satellites visible to the naked eye at night, obstructing views for telescopes on Earth and in space. Additionally, the satellites would need to be continuously replaced every five years, similar to SpaceX’s Starlink program, which could result in one satellite launching or re-entering the atmosphere every 3 minutes. This frequent turnover raises concerns about the environmental impact of satellite re-entry, particularly the production of aluminum oxide (alumina), a substance that destroys ozone and could significantly alter Earth’s stratosphere.
The FCC allows public comments on such proposals, with over 350 submissions already received as the deadline approaches on March
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Originally published on New Scientist on 2/25/2026