A coalition of environmental scientists, backed by Earthjustice, is petitioning the FCC for a full environmental review of proposed orbital data centres from companies including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, warning the projects could cause lasting damage to the planet’s atmosphere and night sky.
Scientists have warned that plans to build data centres in space could prove “catastrophic” for the planet, as some of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs push forward with proposals to move computing infrastructure into orbit. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are among the companies exploring the idea, arguing that space-based data centres could benefit from free, limitless solar power and lower operating costs. In response, a coalition of scientists represented by the environmental law organisation Earthjustice has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a “comprehensive review” of the environmental risks involved.
Why companies want data centres in space
Interest in orbital data centres has grown rapidly in recent years, driven largely by the rise of artificial intelligence and the resulting surge in demand for computing storage. Speaking last year, Bezos predicted that data centres would be built in space within the next 10 to 20 years, while Musk simply confirmed that “SpaceX will be doing this.”
Supporters argue the approach solves two major challenges facing data centres on Earth: energy consumption and environmental impact. Ground-based data centres require vast amounts of electricity to operate and are frequently criticised for their effects on nearby communities, whereas a space-based facility would draw on effectively unlimited solar energy while avoiding many of the local environmental concerns associated with land-based sites.
The scale of what’s being proposed
According to the coalition’s petition, SpaceX alone has proposed launching up to one million orbital data centre satellites, while other applicants include Starcloud, Cowboy Space, and proposals linked to Blue Origin. This comes against a backdrop of already rapid growth in satellite numbers: the coalition says there are currently around 15,000 active satellites in orbit, a figure projected to rise to 58,000 by 2030, even before any of the proposed data centre constellations are launched.
Several companies have recently sought licences from the FCC to deploy millions of satellites into low-Earth orbit. In its new petition, the scientific coalition is calling on the regulator to pause the process and properly assess the risks before granting further approvals.
What scientists are calling for
The petition asks the FCC to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement before approving any orbital data centre projects, arguing that assessing each licence application individually would fail to capture the cumulative environmental impact of deploying such vast numbers of satellites. The coalition also points out that the FCC has historically exempted most satellite licences from full environmental review, despite the rapid expansion of large satellite constellations in recent years.
Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said: “Allowing a million orbiting data centers with no environmental review isn’t just irresponsible — it’s reckless. The potential for these projects to degrade the atmosphere with pollution and debris and harm wildlife needs to be carefully considered before licensing these projects.”
Environmental and safety concerns
Scientists involved in the petition point to a range of known environmental impacts linked to satellite deployment, including high emissions associated with rocket launches and re-entries, along with damage to the ozone layer. Critics have further warned that adding such a large number of satellites to orbit could raise the risk of collisions and cascading debris events, a phenomenon known as Kessler syndrome, potentially rendering parts of low-Earth orbit unusable for future spacecraft.
Jan Hasselman, senior attorney at Earthjustice, said: “Drastically expanding satellites in space has a direct impact on people’s everyday lives as well as the future of our planet. Agencies that authorize companies looking to space as the next frontier still must operate within the law, and the law requires the FCC to consider all the risks and impacts of these proposals. If we have to sue so that they comply, we will.”
Concerns over light pollution
The coalition has also raised concerns about light pollution from orbital data centres, warning it could disrupt wildlife as well as affect people on Earth. Ruskin Hartley, executive director of DarkSky International, said: “These projects could permanently alter the night sky as we know it. The FCC needs to take seriously its obligation to ensure these projects do not cause unnecessary harm to naturally dark skies, or to our overall environment.”
Environmental groups involved in the petition have said they are prepared to pursue legal action against the FCC should the regulator continue approving orbital data centre licences without carrying out a full environmental assessment.
