In recent times, however, that has not been the case — SpaceX’s biggest contract provider, NASA, even recently warned that the private firm’s growing Starlink satellite constellation could impede its ability to detect potentially hazardous asteroids headed towards Earth.
We spoke to a number of leading astronomers to get their thoughts on whether SpaceX's latest update is a positive step and whether it will improve relations between the private space firm and the global astronomical community.
Rawls recently published an article in the journal Nature titled 'The Case for Space Environmentalism', and she is part of the newly-formed International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (IAU CPS).
Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina, Canada, who’s also working to spread the word and fight the impact of Starlink on astronomy, told IE she thinks “it is absolutely fantastic that SpaceX appears to be taking the light pollution issue seriously.
"But in the past, they have made grand statements about making Starlink satellites fainter without meeting their promises, so I will believe it when I see it (or hopefully, when I don't see the satellites anymore!)”, Lawler added, likely referring to SpaceX’s scuppered sun visor plans.
Aaron Boley, an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of British Columbia, agrees that the environmental impact of satellite launches in the upper atmosphere may eventually become an even greater concern than its impact on astronomy.
The astronomers we talked to all seem to be in agreement when it comes to SpaceX’s new announcement regarding their plans for Starlink brightness mitigation
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