DarkSky International has issued an urgent call to action about two satellite proposals currently under review by the FCC that could fundamentally and irreversibly alter the night sky. The window to act is closing fast.
Two Unprecedented Proposals
Reflect Orbital wants to deploy satellites with massive mirrors to beam “sunlight on demand” to Earth at night — more than three times brighter than the full moon. They plan to sell this artificial daylight to solar farms and cities, disrupting the natural cycle of light and dark that all life on Earth has evolved around for billions of years.
SpaceX has asked for permission to launch up to one million satellites as orbital data centers for AI infrastructure. Currently there are about 14,500 active satellites in orbit. This would increase that number by nearly 70 times. Once deployment begins at this scale, the effects would be extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.
Why This Matters
Wildlife: Countless species depend on natural light cycles for migration, reproduction, and survival. Space-based artificial light would disrupt these patterns globally.
Astronomy: Scattered light would degrade ground-based observations worldwide and could damage sensitive instruments at observatories.
Safety: Moving beams from space could create sudden flashes and glare, posing risks to aircraft, drivers, and night vision.
Cultural Heritage: The night sky is humanity’s oldest shared heritage. Indigenous communities view satellite proliferation as threatening traditional knowledge and ceremonies.
Act NOW
Both proposals are open for public comment with the FCC. The Reflect Orbital deadline is March 6. The SpaceX window could close at any time.
DarkSky International has made submitting comments straightforward — it takes just 15 minutes.
Read the full article and submit your comment →
The night sky belongs to all of us. Once we lose it, we can’t get it back. Don’t let these decisions be made without your voice.
Visit darksky.org to learn more and submit your FCC comments before it’s too late.