Satellite Constellation Internet Affordability and Need

Rawls, Meredith L.; Thiemann, Heidi B.; Chemin, Victor; Walkowicz, Lucianne; Peel, Mike W.; Grange, Yan G.
Bibliographical reference

Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society

Advertised on:
10
2020
Number of authors
6
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
6
Refereed citations
4
Description
Large satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit seek to be the infrastructure for global broadband Internet and other telecommunication needs. We briefly review the impacts of satellite constellations on astronomy and show that the Internet service offered by these satellites will primarily target populations where it is unaffordable, not needed, or both. The harm done by tens to hundreds of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites to astronomy, stargazers worldwide, and the environment is not acceptable.