30 years ago, it was possible to be lost - not because you wanted to be, but because you had no way of figuring out where we are. GPS and other GNSS networks ha

30 years ago, it was possible to be lost - not because you wanted to be, but because you had no way of figuring out where we are. GPS and other GNSS networks have solved that problem. It used to be possible to not have high-speed internet, and now high-speed Internet is available everywhere in the world that has an amenable government. Right now, it's possible to be in a location where it's impossible to call for help. In a few years, when LTE-in-space is available and the 911 mandate applies to it, anyone with a charged phone will be able to get contact. SpaceX has been working to mitigate how its satellites affect astronomy - see https://api.starlink.com/public-files/BrightnessMitigationBestPracticesSatelliteOperators.pdf https://api.starlink.com/public-files/BrightnessMitigationBe... and https://new.nsf.gov/news/statement-nsf-astronomy-coordination-agreement https://new.nsf.gov/news/statement-nsf-astronomy-coordinatio... . But fundamentally, to limit space to astronomy will be to limit the benefits it can give all mankind. a