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Momentarily setting aside the human tragedy of losing the night sky for...broadband internet. We can manage externalities through taxation. Large constellations

Momentarily setting aside the human tragedy of losing the night sky for...broadband internet. We can manage externalities through taxation. Large constellations should be funding space-based sensors across all spectrums for regular astronomy and planetary defense. I feel like we could get here via a launch license fee.

deleted 5y ago
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panick21_ 5y ago
We don't actually lose the night sky. That literally not a thing. Some very few scientific instruments will have slightly higher cost of operations. 99.99999% of people will never notice anything. Can we stop being so dramatic?
- sklargh 5y ago
  No, we actually do lose the night sky as we understand it and have understood it for generations. That literally is a thing. No, there are many scientific instruments, basic optical telescopes, advanced observatories to NEO detection tools that will be affected (see article). The costs of placing telescopes in orbit is exceptionally high relative to constructing them on the ground, so again, no optical astronomy is going to experience a significantly higher cost of operations. Yes, few people will notice. Few people noticed when we poisoned rivers with PCBs or approved the demolition of Penn Station. There is an aesthetic, social and practical value that is lost when we allow a select set of firms to dominate certain frequency bands and orbital locations. No, we cannot stop being so dramatic, these are legitimate questions. Space is for everyone's benefit, not just SpaceX, despite their remarkable accomplishments. It is reasonable to have a discussion about how we will mitigate the tragedy of the commons in advance, have a plan and ensure that again...broadband internet in space, a regulated business doing a thing for money in a common setting...benefits us from its use of our common domain.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

panick21_ 5y ago

We don't actually lose the night sky. That literally not a thing. Some very few scientific instruments will have slightly higher cost of operations. 99.99999% of people will never notice anything. Can we stop being so dramatic?

sklargh 5y ago
No, we actually do lose the night sky as we understand it and have understood it for generations. That literally is a thing. No, there are many scientific instruments, basic optical telescopes, advanced observatories to NEO detection tools that will be affected (see article). The costs of placing telescopes in orbit is exceptionally high relative to constructing them on the ground, so again, no optical astronomy is going to experience a significantly higher cost of operations. Yes, few people will notice. Few people noticed when we poisoned rivers with PCBs or approved the demolition of Penn Station. There is an aesthetic, social and practical value that is lost when we allow a select set of firms to dominate certain frequency bands and orbital locations. No, we cannot stop being so dramatic, these are legitimate questions. Space is for everyone's benefit, not just SpaceX, despite their remarkable accomplishments. It is reasonable to have a discussion about how we will mitigate the tragedy of the commons in advance, have a plan and ensure that again...broadband internet in space, a regulated business doing a thing for money in a common setting...benefits us from its use of our common domain.