Elon Musk's SpaceX previously received authorization for
about 12,000 satellites to offer broadband internet and has requested
authorization for a second-generation constellation of 30,000 satellites.
"NASA has concerns with the potential for a significant
increase in the frequency of conjunction events and possible impacts to NASA’s
science and human spaceflight missions," the agency wrote the Federal
Communications Commission.
NASA noted there are currently 25,000 total objects tracked
on-orbit - and about 6,100 below 600 km. SpaceX’s Gen2 expansion "would
more than double the number of tracked objects in orbit and increase the number
of objects below 600 km over five-fold," it added.
Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, part
of the American Astronomical Society panel examining the impacts of satellites
on astronomy said: "We've been concerned with having these large numbers
of satellites that interfere with astronomical observations... I think we need
a little more experience with the several thousand operating satellites before
we can ramp up to the tens of thousands."
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Musk tweeted on Jan. 15 SpaceX had 1,469 Starlink satellites
active and 272 moving to operational orbits soon.
Amazon.com, which has pledged to spend at least $10 billion
to build 3,236 such satellites through its Project Kuiper program, separately
raised concerns with the FCC about SpaceX's plan as did Dish Network.
Amazon said under SpaceX’s application "at least
hundreds—and potentially more than ten thousand—SpaceX satellites could operate
at the same altitudes as the Kuiper System."
It warned "the effect of this orbital overlap would be a dramatic increase in risks and other burdens on the Kuiper System" and asked the FCC to impose "reasonable conditions."
While extremely costly to deploy, satellite technology can
provide high-speed internet for people who live in rural or hard-to-serve
places where fiber optic cables and cell towers do not reach. The technology
could also be a critical backstop when hurricanes or other natural disasters
disrupt communication.
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