By 
March 23rd, 2026
SpaceX Starship deployment. Image credit: SpaceX
Two projected space projects — orbital data centers and a network of Earth-circling solar reflectors – have stirred up the Center for Space Environmentalism.
The group is dedicated to the protection of the space environment and the preservation of outer space as a human environment. They have opposed the two initiatives, filing their concerns on March 4 with the Federal Communications Commission.
The Center for Space Environmentalism (CSE) is a group of researchers, citizens and advocates concerned about the rapid development of outer space in the absence of meaningful safeguards for the protection of the space environment.
Reflect on this!
The SpaceX application for 1 million orbital data centers is “the single greatest threat to space sustainability in history,” states the Center’s filing to the FCC.
In another FCC filing, the Center opposes the application by Reflect Orbital Inc. (Reflect Orbital) to launch and operate the EARENDIL-1 satellite.
Image credit: Reflect Orbital Inc.
“We contend that its ‘sunlight-as-a-service’ model is a direct threat to the scientific, cultural, and biological integrity of the Earth’s nighttime environment. We therefore urge the Commission to reject this request and instead mandate a full environmental review.”
Launch and reentry issues
The SpaceX proposal, explains the Center, seeks to “solve” terrestrial land-use and energy strain by exporting the environmental cost of data processing to the upper atmosphere and near-Earth space.
“This approach simply shifts externalities to outer space and solves nothing,” the Center explains. “We hold that humanity must consider the sustainability of the entire Earth-space system, rather than using space merely as a means to offset unsustainable human activity on Earth.”
Image credit: SpaceX
The proposed million-satellite constellation creates a permanent cycle of launch and reentry issues, adds the Center. “This cycle risks turning the mesosphere and stratosphere into an ‘incinerator dump’ for space machinery.” Furthermore, such a massive constellation “requires a launch cadence that would introduce unprecedented levels of black carbon (soot) and water vapor into the stratosphere.”
Night sky transformation
Then there’s the issue of reentering data centers that do not demise completely upon their fiery fall. They pose a threat to people and human infrastructure on the ground, the Center’s FCC filing points out.
Additionally, there’s the fundamental alteration of the night sky
“By placing one million satellites in Sun-Synchronous Orbits (SSO) to ensure near-continuous solar illumination, SpaceX risks ending the era of dark night skies on Earth,” the Center states. “For ground observers, a million satellites would radically transform the night sky, with hundreds or thousands of bright, moving objects visible in every direction all night long.”
Image credit: Reflect Orbital Inc.
Heavy on light cycles
Regarding the sunlight-as-a-service concept, the Center’s FCC filing rejects the Reflect Orbital premise that terrestrial energy challenges should be addressed by disrupting global atmospheric chemistry and the natural light cycles of our planet.
“What Reflect Orbital proposes is not innovation; rather, it is merely exporting industrial pollution into the shared global commons of outer space,” the space environment groups argues.
“The CSE believes that a sustainable future depends on a healthy and protected space environment. We therefore call on the Commission to reject Reflect Orbital’s application pending thorough and complete environmental review of the proposed action.”
For more information on the Center for Space Environmentalism’s FCC filings, go to their “latest advocacy and analysis section” at:
Posted in Space News
