Overview
- A coalition of environmental and scientific groups, represented by Earthjustice, filed a petition in early July asking the FCC to stop processing licenses for orbiting data centers until a programmatic environmental review is completed.
- Applicants have requested vast constellations for space-based data centers, with SpaceX seeking authorization for up to one million low Earth orbit satellites and other firms proposing hundreds of thousands more.
- The groups say the FCC has not required comprehensive environmental reviews for LEO constellations and that the scale of the new proposals calls for a single Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement under NEPA.
- Advocates warn that a massive rise in satellites would raise collision and debris risks that can cascade through orbit, increase launch and reentry emissions that affect the atmosphere, and substantially increase night-sky light pollution that can disrupt wildlife behavior.
- If the FCC ignores the petition the groups say they will consider litigation, and the dispute could affect pending agency steps to speed satellite licensing and new rules that already tighten deorbit requirements for new LEO satellites.