Environmental and scientific organizations have petitioned the FCC to require environmental reviews before licensing space-based data center projects that could deploy over one million new satellites to low Earth orbit. Companies including SpaceX have requested FCC licenses for these systems without undergoing environmental assessment, prompting groups represented by Earthjustice to demand regulatory oversight. The coalition argues that deploying satellites at this scale without reviewing potential impacts on dark skies, wildlife, and the atmosphere is irresponsible.
The proposal would dramatically increase orbital congestion -- currently around 15,000 active satellites and 46,000 tracked objects exist in LEO, with that number already projected to reach 58,000 from existing megaconstellations like Starlink. The coalition cites multiple environmental concerns: collision debris that increases further collision risk, greenhouse gas emissions from launch rockets, heavy metals and materials released when satellites deorbit and burn up in the atmosphere, and widespread light pollution that disrupts wildlife migration, feeding schedules, and nocturnal behavior across species. The FCC has not yet required environmental reviews for LEO satellite deployments, and the petitioners say they are prepared to pursue legal action if the agency does not comply with environmental review requirements.