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Space datacenters proposed by Musk and Bezos ‘catastrophic’ for planet, experts warn
A new petition filed with the US Federal Communications Commission warns that plans by SpaceX, Blue Origin and other tech firms to build vast networks of orbital datacentres could cause "catastrophic" environmental damage. Space industry experts and environmental groups argue that pollution from satellites and rockets burning up on re-entry is accumulating in the stratosphere at worrying levels, potentially altering the Earth's atmosphere, damaging the ozone layer and increasing light pollution across the night sky. The petition calls for a pause on new licences until the environmental, scientific and economic impacts are properly reviewed, accusing the companies of ignoring scrutiny of their "civilisation-changing" plans.
The petition was submitted by the non-profits Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Earthjustice and DarkSky International, and says the spacecraft release black soot, rare metals, aluminium oxides and other poorly understood pollutants. Former US space officials, including ex-Noaa satellite chief Steve Volz, voiced doubts that the orbital datacentre projects are even feasible, but stressed that adding millions more satellites to orbit would still pose serious environmental risks. The number of active satellites has already grown from around 1,400 in 2015 to roughly 15,000 today, with up to 100,000 expected within a decade — not including proposed datacentre networks — while existing "mega constellations" like Starlink and Amazon's broadband satellites already number about 10,000.
In short
- Petition warns space datacentres from SpaceX and Blue Origin risk atmospheric damage
- Groups demand FCC pause new licences pending environmental review
- Satellite numbers set to surge from 15,000 to 100,000 within a decade
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
These space datacenter networks could provide transformative benefits including unprecedented computational capacity, global low-latency services and improved connectivity to underserved regions, whilst technological solutions such as improved materials and launch efficiency could mitigate environmental impacts. Advocates contend that responsible development should proceed alongside environmental monitoring, arguing that halting innovation based on preliminary concerns risks surrendering technological leadership and ignoring the genuine infrastructure demands that society increasingly depends upon.
The case against
The documented release of black soot, rare metals and other poorly understood pollutants into the stratosphere, combined with the dramatic expansion of satellite activity already underway, raises serious scientific concerns about atmospheric chemistry, ozone depletion and long-term planetary effects. Opponents argue that the scale of proposed expansion warrants a precautionary pause for comprehensive environmental and scientific review before new licences are granted, particularly given the irreversible nature of potential harm and the inadequacy of current regulatory frameworks to evaluate such unprecedented orbital activity.
Explained simply
Tech firms including SpaceX and Blue Origin are planning to build vast datacentres in orbit around Earth. These facilities would store and process data from space rather than relying on ground-based servers, allowing companies to offer faster computing and internet services from above the planet.
Environmental and space experts have raised concerns about the pollution this could cause. When satellites and rockets operate in orbit or burn up on re-entry, they release soot, metals and other substances that accumulate high above Earth's surface. The number of satellites already in orbit has grown from around 1,400 in 2015 to roughly 15,000 today, with tens of thousands more expected, and experts worry that adding orbital datacentres would worsen this pollution, potentially damaging the ozone layer, altering the atmosphere and increasing light pollution.
Environmental groups and space officials are calling for a pause on new orbital datacentre licences. They want the environmental, scientific and economic impacts to be properly reviewed before these projects proceed.
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