Coalition Calls for Rigorous Federal Review of Space-Based Data Center Proposals

A coalition of environmental and scientific organizations, represented by Earthjustice, petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a comprehensive review of the environmental risks, impacts, and costs of satellite-based data centers. The petition asks the FCC to pause granting any licenses for these “orbital data centers” until it conducts a programmatic environmental review.

Several companies have in recent months sought a license from the FCC to deploy massive numbers of data centers into space — the applicants are collectively proposing well over a million satellites in low-earth orbit. Putting an unprecedented number of satellites in space risks changing our atmosphere, disrupting our daily activities that rely on satellites currently operating, disturbing wildlife, and fundamentally altering our night sky.

“These projects could permanently alter the night sky as we know it,” said Ruskin Hartley, executive director of DarkSky International. “The FCC needs to take seriously its obligation to ensure these projects do not cause unnecessary harm to naturally dark skies, or to our overall environment.”

“Allowing a million orbiting data centers with no environmental review isn’t just irresponsible — it’s reckless,” said Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “The potential for these projects to degrade the atmosphere with pollution and debris and harm wildlife needs to be carefully considered before licensing these projects.”

“Drastically expanding satellites in space has a direct impact on people’s everyday lives as well as the future of our planet,” said Jan Hasselman, senior attorney at Earthjustice. “Agencies that authorize companies looking to space as the next frontier still must operate within the law, and the law requires the FCC to consider all the risks and impacts of these proposals. If we have to sue so that they comply, we will.”

The number of satellites in space has grown exponentially in the last several years. In 2015, there were about 1,400 active satellites; as of 2026, there are 15,000 satellites, and that number is projected to grow to an additional 58,000 by 2030. SpaceX’s proposal alone seeks permission to launch up to a million space-based data centers.

The FCC has historically authorized satellites without any environmental review and has never considered cumulative impacts. Satellites have several known environmental impacts, including emissions from rocket launches and reentries, debris from potential collisions, degradation of the ozone layer, and light pollution that would disrupt and harm our wildlife and negatively affect humans.

Earthjustice filed the petition on behalf of DarkSky International, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and Environment America. Read a full copy of the petition.