A nonprofit organization has called on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to pause satellite megaconstellation launches until it can assess the environmental impact of placing thousands of spacecraft in orbit.
Over the last few years, scientists have begun calling attention to the risks large numbers of satellites pose to our atmosphere, climate, orbital safety and astronomical research. A study by University of California researchers, published in June, concluded that chemicals produced by the incineration of large numbers of satellites during atmospheric reentry have a potential to "significantly" damage Earth's recovering ozone layer. Another study, presented by a team with the U.S. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) in January, found that the expected increase in concentrations of those chemicals in Earth's upper atmosphere will produce "statistically significant stratospheric temperature anomalies."
