(Left to right: Ilsa Mroz (Planet Labs), Yaswant Devarakonda (CCIA), Lindsay DeMarchi (Aerospace Corporation).) This March, CCIA participated in a panel at SXSW to discuss how the commercial space industry has been working with astronomers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to preserve the night sky while enabling greater access to commercial satellite technology.
The panel was moderated by Planet Labs’ Regulatory Affairs Manager Ilsa Mroz and featured Dr. Yaswant Devarakonda, CCIA’s Space & Spectrum Policy Manager, and Dr. Lindsay DeMarchi, Senior Policy Analyst at the Aerospace Corporation.
After introductions, Dr. DeMarchi kicked off the panel by providing an overview of how commercial space activities can unintentionally interfere with astronomical studies as satellites reflect sunlight and transmit radio waves over observatories. As a former astronomer, she provided a firsthand account of why dark and quiet sky (DQS) protections are needed for astronomy, and the importance of astronomy as a scientific discipline.
Dr. Devarakonda then went on to provide an explanation of current regulatory landscape on DQS, focusing on the role that the FCC plays in managing commercial spectrum use and in requiring that operators coordinate with the National Science Foundation to mitigate impacts on astronomy.
Ms. Mroz followed up with details on the strategies and technologies that Planet utilizes to limit the brightness of their satellites. This includes experimenting with different types of coating and with modifications to the attitude and orientation of satellites to reduce the amount of sunlight reflected to the Earth. She also discussed how Planet shares its ephemeris data with observatories so that astronomers can plan around the predicted trajectories of Planet’s satellites.
Dr. Devarakonda and Dr. DeMarchi then overviewed how organizations such as the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the International Telecommunications Union’s World Radio Conference are able to create a space for global collaboration on this topic. They remarked that nearly every member nation expressed interest in working together to mitigate the impacts of space activities on astronomy, and that formal support at these multi-national institutions has enabled a more open discussion on the strategies employed by each nation.
Speaking on the research and development done by the space industry on DQS, Ms. Mroz and Dr. Devarakonda discussed how many of the larger companies have invested in testing different technologies and strategies to reduce the brightness of their satellites. They noted that while the industry has made significant strides in the last few years, there is still much work to be done in developing mitigation strategies before they are ready for widespread use or for regulation. They noted that the high costs of development make it difficult for startups and small companies to invest at the same level as the more established companies, and how the technologies developed are often not applicable to multiple satellite designs.
Dr. DeMarchi added that there is a lack of testing facilities in the U.S. that can adequately recreate the conditions of space in order to test these technologies. All panelists agreed that due to the ongoing nature of standards development, it would be too early to create specific regulations for dark and quiet skies. The panelists reiterated the importance of collaboration at the national and international levels between astronomers, satellite engineers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to maintain progress and to encourage the adoption of best practices amongst the industry.
CCIA continues to advocate for the role of LEO broadband in global connectivity in concert with sensible policies and modern technology to maintain access to the dark and quiet skies.
