Space datacenters proposed by Musk and Bezos ‘catastrophic’ for planet, experts warn
Summary
Tech companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin want to build datacenters in space by launching millions of satellites. Experts and environmental groups warn that this could cause serious pollution in Earth’s atmosphere and harm the environment. A petition asks the U.S. government to stop approving these projects until the impacts are fully studied.Key Facts
- SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, and others plan to create millions of “orbital datacenters” using satellites.
- These projects need approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
- Satellites and rockets release pollutants like black soot, aluminum oxides, and rare metals that accumulate in the stratosphere.
- Pollution could threaten the ozone layer, increase ultraviolet radiation exposure, and worsen climate change.
- Decommissioned satellites release metals back into the atmosphere when they burn up on re-entry.
- The number of active satellites has grown from about 1,400 in 2015 to 15,000 now, with a forecast of up to 100,000 in the near future.
- Organizations like Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Earthjustice, and DarkSky International filed a petition demanding a review and pause on new licenses.
- Former NOAA official Steve Volz expressed concern about adding complex materials and pollutants to the atmosphere.
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