"The ideal of a dark and quiet sky is one many astronomers fight to protect. ... Preservation of the night sky across the electromagnetic spectrum is an extension of the stewardship of a human environment that now goes beyond our planet and reaches toward the cosmic ocean. It is also key to the future of astronomical discoveries."

https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/online/44173/Threats-to-the-dark-and-quiet-sky

Proliferating #SpaceDebris threatens environmental monitoring satellites.

"About 70% to 80% of all the [#climate and environment] information that we get are from #satellites. If those satellites in orbit are in danger, our ability to predict climate changes in the future […] is certainly under threat."

https://www.dw.com/en/space-junk-damaging-satellites-how-do-we-remove-it/a-72117947

New research on effects of reentries of 1000's of satellites on the Earth's #atmosphere: "We find that depending on reentry latitude and aerosol size distribution, a 20–40-Gg stratospheric burden of Al2O3 aerosols accumulates poleward of 30 N/S between 10 and 30 km. Small but statistically significant changes in mesospheric heating rates lead to 1.5 K-temperature anomalies in the mesosphere and the stratosphere at Southern Hemisphere high latitudes."

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2024JD042442

It was only a matter of time before someone proposed merging #SpaceWarfare with the large satellite constellation model. But at what risk to the #SpaceEnvironment?

"The concept would consist of up to 2,000 small satellites [which] would serve dual purposes as both detection systems and 'kill vehicles' that would de-orbit, target, and physically slam into threats without requiring missiles in space." Each satellite would be "roughly the size of a small refrigerator".

https://spacenews.com/booz-allen-unveils-brilliant-swarms-satellite-concept-for-missile-defense/

Deloitte on #space: "While growth in the space industry is generally positive, it also poses challenges, which can put #spacecraft at risk. Preservation of the space environment, such as critical earth orbits, is essential to the industry’s growth. As a space sector leader, the United States can have a vital role and ample motivation to lead in sustainable space practices and international cooperative efforts to help preserve the #SpaceEnvironment."

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/public-sector/us-leader-in-space-industry-growth-and-development.html

Astrospace interview with Tim Flohrer, head of the European Space Agency's Space Debris Office: "What is actually making our job more difficult today compared to a few years ago, is the rapid increase of active satellites. ... The effort we have to put today in this coordination activities is enormous, and rapidly increasing. And the complexity of the process results also in increased collision risks."

https://www.astrospace.it/2025/03/26/present-and-future-of-space-debris-management-interview-with-tim-flohrer-head-of-the-esa-space-debris-office/

"#Space startup Gravitics has been awarded a $60M contract by the US Space Force to develop an 'orbital carrier' that can deploy satellites from orbit. ... While many questions remain about what exactly this carrier could be capable of — unsurprising, considering the sensitive nature of the plans — it's yet another sign that the US military is looking to beef up its presence in orbit, highlighting a brewing 'space arms race.'"

https://futurism.com/the-byte/space-force-aircraft-carrier-space

"A large glowing spiral visible in the night sky on Monday is believed to have been caused by a #SpaceX rocket launch in the US. The cloud-like shape was visible for several minutes above the UK and elsewhere in Europe before fading."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c241073v66jo

The #SpaceEnvironment is rapidly becoming a dangerous place.

"The large-scale weaponization of space appears to be imminent as competition in orbit heats up between the U.S. and its adversaries."

https://www.twz.com/space/putting-missile-interceptors-in-space-critical-to-defending-u-s-citizens-space-force-boss

AST SpaceMobile has announced plans to launch FM1, a second-generation BlueBird satellite. It is about 223 square meters in size, or three times larger than first-gen BlueBirds. They will likely be the brightest artificial objects in the night sky after the ISS.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/starlink-rival-ast-spacemobile-tips-new-satellite-prototype

Opinion: "The U.S., ... as a nation, must pursue multilateral agreements that establish norms of behavior and rules of engagement in space. Such agreements can help mitigate conflicts, promote cooperation in the responsible use of space resources, ensure safety in operations, and protect the space environment, while aligning the interests of various stakeholders." (via @spacenews.com)

https://spacenews.com/balancing-national-security-and-international-cooperation-in-the-competitive-era-of-commercial-space/

"With the rapid expansion of commercial space flight, thousands of satellites are being launched each year. Yet few owners have plans to remove them from orbit in a controlled way. Everyone, everywhere — on Earth’s surface, flying in aeroplanes, as well as in space — is increasingly at risk from these projectiles. Space-faring nations and companies must urgently address this threat."

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00797-7

Springer International has just released "Space Ecology: From Earth to Moon and Mars", by Patrizia Caraveo. The book "extends the concept of environmental protection to orbital space, which should be used in a sustainable way."

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-78344-9

#HelloWorld

We are proud to announce the launch of the Center for Space Environmentalism!

CSE is a group of scholars and experts who inform and advocate for issues pertaining to the protection of the increasingly crowded #space environment. It is intended in part to counter the prevailing narrative about the 'inevitable' commercial development and exploitation of outer space. We welcome dialog and interaction with anyone interested in these topics.

#SpaceEnvironment
#SpaceEnvironmentalism

The Center for Space Environmentalism (CSE) has launched!

CSE is a group of scholars and experts who inform and advocate for issues pertaining to the protection of the increasingly crowded space environment. It is intended in part to counter the prevailing narrative about the 'inevitable' commercial development and exploitation of outer space. We welcome dialog and interaction with anyone interested in these topics.

I am proud to participate in this effort with my colleagues @salvabara, @planet4589, @sundogplanets and others.

Follow us on Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@space_environmentalism

And visit our website: https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/

A couple of abstracts relevant to the space environment from the upcoming European Geosciences Union (Vienna, 27 April–2 May 2025):

“Defining the environmental impacts of satellite megaconstellation missions in a rapidly growing space sector” https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-17301.html

“Survey of the estimated mass of ablated material and intact debris from ‘end-of-life’ LEO spacecraft entering the atmosphere” https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-12796.html

There are reports that the brightness of some of the Chinese #Qianfan satellites is varying on short timescales. (e.g., https://www.satobs.org/seesat/Mar-2025/0049.html)

This behavior suggests that these satellites (and possibly others) from the second Qianfan launch are currently tumbling in orbit.

Thanks to Sharmila Kuthunur for this comprehensive Scientific American story on the status quo regarding space advertising, the potential harm to astronomy it poses, and what astronomers are doing to address the issue.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/space-advertising-draws-astronomers-opposition/

Three pieces by @Nature today on dark and quiet skies.

A news feature looking at the state of solutions for satellite constellations:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00792-y

A related Editorial:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00788-8

And a Comment piece by two experts on the risk of space debris hitting the ground:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00797-7

"Today, with launch costs plummeting and micro-technology enabling much smaller (and lighter) satellites, society is becoming increasingly reliant on this off-earth capability, whether for navigation by land, air or sea, for weather forecasting or for the precision timing signal that forms the basis for global banking transactions. How can society protect the space environment, and what role should the UK play in this vital pillar of national defence?"

https://www.progressivebritain.org/space-the-final-frontier/