4 ms·

Not OP, but I can think of two reasons – too many LEO satellites can actually hinder views of the night sky[0] and additionally, the risk of kessler syndrome[1]

by switz 5y ago

Not OP, but I can think of two reasons – too many LEO satellites can actually hinder views of the night sky[0] and additionally, the risk of kessler syndrome[1]. I'm in no way equipped to give a scientific risk assessment of either, so I'll defer to others to share if they feel it's major concern. But whether these are present issues or not, they're worth considering and thinking about as we move forward with more LEO deployments. The latter issue especially, given that once it occurs, it'll be extremely difficult (nigh impossible?) to rectify in short order. [0] https://astrobites.org/2020/09/25/leosats/ https://astrobites.org/2020/09/25/leosats/ [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome

logicx24 5y ago
Amazing, we now have sky NIMBYs complaining about satellites hindering views.
- dylan604 5y ago
  just because you live in a place where you can't even see the night sky doesn't mean other people should be robbed of their view.
  - Lapsed 5y ago
    No one lives in a place where they can see starlink satellites with their naked eye once they are in operational orbit.
  - BenjiWiebe 5y ago
    I'd be in favor of requiring all city lights to be turned off after 7pm so I could see the night sky better in my rural location. (/sorta s) A small city 40 miles away hurts the view far more then the Starlink satellites do.
mgraczyk 5y ago
The night view is a potential issue, but Kessler syndrome is not. These satellites will decay on extremely short timescales. Until many of them start blowing up and launching debris in higher orbit, we don't need to worry too much about this.
maccam94 5y ago
Kessler Syndrome is not really an issue at lower LEO, the atmospheric drag quickly (in ~5 years) deorbits anything without functioning propulsion and navigation systems.
- switz 5y ago
  My mistake, I appreciate you correcting me.

by switz 5y ago

logicx24 5y ago

Amazing, we now have sky NIMBYs complaining about satellites hindering views.

dylan604 5y ago
just because you live in a place where you can't even see the night sky doesn't mean other people should be robbed of their view.
- Lapsed 5y ago
  No one lives in a place where they can see starlink satellites with their naked eye once they are in operational orbit.
- BenjiWiebe 5y ago
  I'd be in favor of requiring all city lights to be turned off after 7pm so I could see the night sky better in my rural location. (/sorta s) A small city 40 miles away hurts the view far more then the Starlink satellites do.

mgraczyk 5y ago

The night view is a potential issue, but Kessler syndrome is not. These satellites will decay on extremely short timescales. Until many of them start blowing up and launching debris in higher orbit, we don't need to worry too much about this.

maccam94 5y ago

Kessler Syndrome is not really an issue at lower LEO, the atmospheric drag quickly (in ~5 years) deorbits anything without functioning propulsion and navigation systems.

switz 5y ago
My mistake, I appreciate you correcting me.