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Can Satellite Mega-Constellations Justify their Impact on Astronomy?

08 August 2022, Version 3
Working Paper
This content is an early or alternative research output and has not been peer-reviewed by Cambridge University Press at the time of posting.

Abstract

Private space companies are increasingly commercializing near-earth space. Some estimates show that more than 100,000 satellites may orbit the Earth by 2030. This increase in the number of satellites has many consequences for science, particularly astronomy. Satellite mega-constellations for satellite Internet connectivity are one of the main drivers behind the explosion in the number of satellites. Here, we briefly note whether such satellite mega-constellations can justify their impact on astronomy.

Keywords

Astronomy
Satellites

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Version History

Aug 08, 2022 Version 3

Version Notes

Updated manuscript to match Version of Record. Refereed and published in Observatory.

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License

All Rights Reserved

DOI

10.33774/coe-2021-82vgx-v3
D O I: 10.33774/coe-2021-82vgx-v3 [opens in a new tab]

Author’s competing interest statement

The author(s) have declared they have no conflict of interest with regard to this content

Ethics

The author(s) have declared ethics committee/IRB approval is not relevant to this content

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