Light Pollution A closer look at satellites in

Light Pollution: A closer look at satellites in Space Erika Nemeth HON 301 – November 9 th, 2020

Overview I. Brief definition of light pollution II. Brief overview of light pollution on Earth III. Focused discussion of anthropogenic light produced by satellites in space 2

First, what is light pollution? Anthropogenic light in an environment which would otherwise be dark; May describe such light that is outdoors or indoors 3

Why are there so many lights? 4

Why are there so many lights? We can’t see very well in the dark, and we want to keep doing things when it is dark out 5

Sources of Light Pollution Advertisements Parking lot lighting Exterior building lights Your personal computer(s) Offices Your cell phone Filmer, 2013 6

Some definitions • Skyglow: Diffuse and anthropogenic illumination of the sky when it would otherwise be dark 7

Some definitions • Disability glare: Inability to distinguish images due to loss of image contrast as a result of light elsewhere in the field of vision (Filmer, 2013) • In other words, your eyes become distracted by the appearance of a blaringly bright light 8

Consequences of Light Pollution • Decreased visibility of things in space from Earth due to skyglow (Johnson, 2019) • Health issues (e. g. , obesity, depression, sleep disorders, cancer) (Filmer, 2013) • Dangerous driving conditions due to disability glare (Filmer, 2013) • Altered survivability of various species (Carrington, 2019) • Decreased connection to nature 9

What else contributes to light pollution? 10

What else contributes to light pollution? Satellites 11

Satellites & Global Internet Access by Starlink Initiative: A plan to install roughly 12, 000 spacecraft in a low orbit surrounding Earth in order to provide internet coverage to every region on Earth • Mission: “Deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable” • Goals: • By 2020, service in northern U. S. and Canada • By 2021, global coverage of the populated world “Starlink, ” 2020 12

Starlink Users would install one of the devices shown below onto their home in a location with clear view of the northern sky in order to receive broadband from the satellites in space Grush, 2020 13

Starlink • About 60 satellites are launched per spacecraft • The first batch of 60 satellites was launched in May 2019 • As of July 2020, Space. X’s Starlink has put 600 satellites into orbit Grush, 2019; Grush, 2020 14

Many Satellite Constellations • Starlink is NOT the only satellite constellation initiative aiming to deliver global Internet (Daehnick, Chris, et al. , 2020)… • Starlink: Aiming to launch 12, 000 satellites • One. Web: Launched 74 satellites before filing for bankruptcy in March 2020 • Amazon’s Kuiper: Plans to launch 3, 326 spacecraft • Telesat: May deploy > 500 spacecraft 15

Many Satellite Constellations • Starlink is NOT the only satellite constellation initiative aiming to deliver global Internet (Daehnick, Chris, et al. , 2020)… • Starlink: Aiming to launch 12, 000 satellites • One. Web: Launched 74 satellites before filing for bankruptcy in March 2020 • Amazon’s Kuiper: Plans to launch 3, 326 spacecraft • Telesat: May deploy > 500 spacecraft • Perspective: • 2, 000 satellites currently orbit Earth • 9, 000 satellites have been launched in human history (Mann, et al. , 2020) 16

Consequences for Light Pollution Starlink satellites contain solar panels as part of their construction, and consequently reflect sunlight back to Earth 17

Consequences for Light Pollution As a result, astronomical images become littered with streaks from the satellite “constellations, ” GLOBALLY 18

How robust are the current regulations for mitigation of light pollution by space satellites? Not robust enough 19

Flaws in Regulation of Space Satellites • Companies often do not publish how reflective their satellites will be (Ferreira, 2020) • Astronomers feel that there is not enough regulation of the night sky (Ferreira, 2020) • Satellite companies need to communicate better with experts of ground-based astronomy (Ferreira, 2020) 20

Who should be involved in decision-making? • Do laypeople, such as those who simply appreciate having a clear, night sky, deserve a seat at the table for discussion of these matters? • Should regulations be made international, etc. ? 21

Humanity Star • Launched by a New Zealand space-based company to promote appreciation/wonder of space in 2018 • Dubbed by some as ”space graffiti” • What items should be allowed to be placed into space? Mc. Gowan, 2018 22

Existing Protecting Organizations International Dark Sky Association: • US-based non-profit organization • Mission: To preserve and protect the night time environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting (darksky. org) Dark Sky Movement: • A campaign to reduce light pollution • Encourages regulation of on-Earth lighting fixtures 23

Efforts to reduce light reflected by satellites • Space. X implemented a dark coating to reduce satellite light reflectiveness after stating that the quantity of reflectiveness of the satellites caught them as a surprise (Foust, 2020) • Further testing needs to be done • Regardless, Space. X is continuing to launch un-altered satellites • A “sunshade” for satellites • Similar to an umbrella Foust, 2020 24

Implications on an Overall Brighter Night Sky (Revisited) • Decreased visibility of things in space from Earth due to skyglow (Johnson, 2019) • Health issues (e. g. , obesity, depression, sleep disorders, cancer) (Filmer, 2013) • Dangerous driving conditions due to disability glare (Filmer, 2013) • Altered survivability of various species (Carrington, 2019) • Dangerous driving conditions (Filmer, 2013) • Decreased connection to nature 25

References Carrington, Damian. “Light pollution is key 'bringer of insect apocalypse, ’” The Guardian, 22 Nov. 2019, https: //www. theguardian. com/environment/2019/nov/22/light-pollution-insect-apocalypse. Daehnick, Chris, et al. “Large LEO satellite constellations: Will it be different this time? ” Mc. Kinsey & Company, 04 May 2020, https: //www. mckinsey. com/industries/aerospace-and-defense/our-insights/large-leo-satellite-constellations-will-it-be-different-this-time#. Ferreira, Becky. “Amazon Satellites Add to Astronomers’ Worries About the Night Sky, ” The New York Times, 10 Aug. 2020, https: //www. nytimes. com/2020/08/10/science/amazon-project-kuiper. html. Filmer, Joshua. “Light pollution: How does it impact people? ” Futurism, 08 Apr. 2013, https: //futurism. com/light-pollution-how-does-it-impactpeople. Foust, Jeff. ” Space. X, astronomers working to address brightness of Starlink satellites, ” Space. com, 08 Jan. 2020, https: //spacenews. com/spacex-astronomers-working-to-address-brightness-of-starlink-satellites/. Foust, Jeff. “Space. X claims some success in darkening Starlink satellites, ” Space. com, 18 March 2020, https: //spacenews. com/spacex-claims -some-success-in-darkening-starlink-satellites/. Grush, Loren. “Elon Musk shows off Space. X’s 60 internet-beaming satellites packed together for launch, ” 12 May 2019, https: //www. theverge. com/2019/5/12/18616535/spacex-starlink-elon-musk-60 -satellites-launch. Note: All image sources are listed in the notes of the associated slide in the Power. Point 26

References Grush, Loren. “New details and images emerge of Space. X’s Starlink user antennas and planned beta testing, ” 15 July 2020, https: //www. theverge. com/2020/7/15/21325413/spacex-starlink-user-terminals-antennas-internet-satellite-constellation-beta-testing. Johnson, Scott K. “How Flagstaff, Arizona, switched to LEDs without giving astronomers a headache, ” Ars. Technica, 22 Oct. 2019, https: //arstechnica. com/science/2019/10/how-flagstaff-arizona-switched-to-leds-without-giving-astronomers-a-headache/. Mann, Adam. “Starlink: Space. X's satellite internet project, ” Space. com, 17 Jan. 2020, https: //www. space. com/spacex-starlink-satellites. html. Mc. Gowan, Michael. “'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake star into sky, ” The Guardian, 26 Jan. 2018, https: //www. theguardian. com/world/2018/jan/26/space-graffiti-astronomers-angry-over-launch-of-fake-star-into-sky. “Starlink, ” 2020, https: //www. starlink. com/. Note: All image sources are listed in the notes of the associated slide in the Power. Point 27