Impacts of Large Satellite Constellations on Astronomy: Live Updates

If you have questions about the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy, AAS's Public Policy Department (AASPPD) will be publishing updates on this page from now on. Many of our efforts are done in collaboration with the AAS Committee on Light Pollution, Radio Interference, and Space Debris (LPRISD) as well as the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as part of an AAS/IAU Satellite Constellation Working Group (SCWG). 

You can find key reports on the issue here. 

You can find a "leave-behind" document for advocacy here.

Updates from the AAS

August 2022

• LPRISD members brief the Department of Defense Joint Space Team on the issue.

July 2022

• Language supporting NSF study of satellite constellation impacts and mitigation technologies championed by the public policy office is included in the final CHIPS and Science Act, passed on July 27th. 

June 2022

• LPRISD hosts a special session at AAS 240, discussing the current state of the satellite constellation issue and describing on-going work. 

May 2022

• AASPPD and LPRISD members meet with SpaceX to discuss recent observations of Starlinks appearing 0.5 mag brighter. SpaceX explains evolving changes to satellites, including the removal of visors due to inter-satellite laser communication and the addition of new coating to reduce brightness for upcoming Starlink Gen2 satellites.
• Congressional Visits Day volunteers advocate to mitigate harms to astronomy by satellite constellations as part of their messaging when meeting with their congress members.

March 2022:

• The AAS Light Pollution, Radio Interference, and Space Debris Committee (LPRISD) hosts a webinar on satellite constellations and advocacy. 
• The AASPPD briefs a staffer from the office of Senator Lujan (D-NM) on satellite constellation issues.

February 2022:

• Announcement of the creation of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference. 
• Briefing on SATCON2 to the Office of Space Commerce. 
• The UN Science and Technology Committee (STSC) discusses the issue of Dark and Quiet Skies, the first time an astronomy issue has been on the agenda.
• AASPPD gives a science coffee talk about satellite constellations at Johns Hopkins / Space Telescope Science Institute.

January 2022:

• Briefing to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 
• Publication of the Dark & Quiet Skies II report.

December 2021:

• Briefings on the SATCON2 report continue with the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) subcommittee staffers and the House Science staffers.
• Briefing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

November 2021:

• Briefings on the SATCON2 report continue with the State Department on the SATCON2 report.

October 2021: 

• The SATCON2 report is released. AASPPD joined the SATCON working group chairs in briefing the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and a webinar for the US National Committee of the IAU on the findings of the report. 

August 2021:

• AASPPD participated in the Space Generation discussions of satellite constellations. 

July 2021:

• The SATCON2 workshop takes place 12-16 July. AASPPD is on the Policy Working Group, which is divided into U.S., International, and Industry subgroups. AAS advertised the workshop and press conference. AASPPD submits a letter to NASA urging caution with future LED satellite projects following the publicity around LightCube. AAS PPD recommended that the Senate authorizers adopt the same amendment regarding satcons that the House authorizers did for NSF's reauthorization. 

June 2021: 

• AAS's Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (CAPP) and Committee on Light Pollution, Radio Interference, Space Debris (LPRISD) co-hosted a town hall at the AAS 238 summer meeting on "Astro2020 Advocacy, Satellite Constellations, and More!" AASPPD worked with House Science committee staff to get some language on satellite constellations into the House NSF reauthorization and an amendment by Congressman Byer (VA) was added during full committee markup. AASPPD sent a thank you letter to the Congressman and committee thanking them for the amendment. The SATCON2 working groups begin meeting and AAS advertises the workshop registration.  

May 2021:

• The SATCON2 Workshop is announced and accepting applications to join the working groups. 

April 2021:

• AASPD and the International Astronomical Union's U.S. National Committee (USNC/IAU) wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of State urging them to endorse the Dark and Quiet Skies Conference Room Paper (CRP) moving forward at the April United Nations (U.N.) sub-committee meeting. SCWG members presented on satellite constellations to the National Academies' Board on Physics and Astronomy (NAS BPA). AASPPD discussed options for authorizing NSF to address satellite constellations with Congressional staffers. 

January 2021:

• AASPD wrote a reply to the Visasat FCC comment on a Starlink filing, thanking Viasat for calling attention to the impacts of satellite constellations on astronomy and correcting some mistakes in their filing. The SCWG hosted a special session at the AAS 237 winter meeting on "Astronomy and Satellite Constellations" with a panel that included astronomers, SpaceX, OneWeb and Amazon. AASPPD reached out to engineering societies to collaborate on awareness raising. 

December 2020:

• The AASPPD wrote letters to the incoming Biden-Harris transition team, and included a section on the need to preserve our dark and quiet skies. Members of the SCWG present at the ASP meeting on satellite constellations. 

November 2020:

• Members of the SCWG contributed to a Nature Astronomy paper on satellite constellations which was published on 6 November as part of a special edition on small satellites (see publications for more articles). AASPPD met with the Biden transition team member for the NSF and raised the issue of the threat to ground based observing posed by satellite constellations. 

October 2020: 

• The SCWG participated in the Dark and Quiet Skies Workshop. The workshop was divided into Working Groups on the sub-disciplines of optical astronomy, radio astronomy, dark sky places, light effects on the bio-environment, and the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy, both radio and optical. The AASPPD joined the Recommendations group within the Satellite Constellation Working Group. Astronomers, operators, and space lawyers worked together to draft recommendations toward international policy using the results in the report produced from the (June 28 - July 2) Satellite Constellation (SATCON1) Workshop. The AASPPD set up the SCWG's first meeting with the FCC to discuss the SATCON1 Report recommendations. The AAS and SIA teamed up again to do a 1-hour informational webinar for the satellite industry on astronomer's concerns about satellite constellations. The focus this time was going over the technical recommendations of the SATCON1 Report.

September 2020:

• The SATCON1 Report was published on the bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. The SCWG had their first meeting with SpaceX since the report came out to discuss observations of VisorSat. The interagency Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) met this month and discussed the report. Tony Tyson and Joel Parriott co-authored a piece for Science magazine, "Dark Skies and Bright Satellites". 

August 2020:

• The AAS press briefing on the SATCON1 report was held on August 25. The report has been publicly available since that event. NOIRLab released a simultaneous announcement of the report. The AASPPD launched a follow-up advocacy campaign to get the word out about the report. On 31 August we had a briefing with Hill staff. 

July 2020:

• The SCWG, as members of the SOC, hosted a technical workshop from 29 June to 2 July. The goal of this workshop is to produce a white paper, which the working groups have been working on assembling throughout July. The white paper should become available during the month of August. The AASPPD advocated to get the issue of satellite constellations included in the NSF authorization. 

June 2020:

• Members of the SCWG presented at AAS 236 during a press conference and a plenary session. If you registered for AAS 236, you can use your login to watch sessions posted on our site, and in about six months they will be made available to the public (around the time of AAS 237). Members of the SCWG presented to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Space Studies Board (SSB) and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB) at the 2020 Joint Meeting of the ASEB and the SSB, held virtually this year 8-11 June. The SCWG is organized a technical workshop for 29 June to 2 July. Also NSF's Spectrum Innovation Initiative: National Center for Wireless Spectrum Research (SII-Center) has issued a call for proposals due June 12. There was also the Astro2020 meeting on radio frequency interference. 

May 2020:

• AASPPD establishes this webpage to help keep the community better informed. AASPPD co-hosted a webinar with the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) aimed at informing the satellite industry of the impacts satellite constellations have on the astronomical sciences. 

April 2020:

• The Editor of AAS Nova, Susanna Kohler, published a summary of Jonathan McDowell's ApJL paper on satellite constellations. AASPPD has a call with the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to discuss our approach to the satellite constellation problem. Members of SCWG and SpaceX present to the Astro2020 Subcommittee on Satellite MegaConstellations. 

March 2020:

• The AASPPD has an informational meeting with the FAA to be more educated on some of the technical aspects of satellite constellations.  The AASPPD co-hosted an informational Hill briefing on satellite constellations with our Hill briefing series partner, Smithsonian.

February 2020:

• The AASPPD is contacted by lawyers and the NRDC to discuss satellite constellations and environmental law. 

January 2020:

• At AAS 235, AASPPD had an in-person meeting with the Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy during which we discussed our strategy for addressing the impacts of satellite constellations. Also at AAS 235, there was a press conference with members of the SCWG titled "Astronomy Confronts Satellite Constellations", the recording of which is posted under Archived Presentations. Additionally, members of the SCWG and Patricia Cooper of SpaceX sat on a panel for a special session titled "Challenges to Astronomy from Satellites". Then NSF Director, France Cordova, brought up the impacts of constellation satellites on astronomy during a Congressional hearing. AASPPD meets with the Office of Space Commerce to discuss the impacts of satellite constellations on astronomy. The SCWG has our first meeting with OneWeb. Pat Seitzer (MSU, member of SCWG) presents on to the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee.

December 2019:

• The SCWG opens a survey for individual observatories to tell us how satellite constellations will impact them, the summary of our findings is here. An update for the community is posted to the AAS Public Policy Blog. Eighth call between SCWG and SpaceX.

November 2019:

• The APPD updates Congressional staffers on satellite constellations. 

October 2019:

• The SCWG hosts a call with ground-based OIR observatory directors to discuss impacts from satellite constellations. AASPPD discusses increasing concerns around satellite constellations with Congressional staffers. The AAS Light Pollution, Radio Interference, and Space Debris (LPRISD) Committee invited abstracts for the Special Session "Challenges to Astronomy from Satellites" (formerly "Threats to Astronomy from Lighting and Satellites") which was held on 8 January 2020 at the 235th AAS meeting in Honolulu. The Pentagon laid out a five-year draft budget for the Space Development Agency (SDA), which included plans for fiscal years (FY) 2021 to 2025 for research, development, prototyping, testing and deployment of large constellations of satellites for military use. Virgin Space and Firefly Aerospace give a Congressional briefing on the small satellites launch industry. 

September 2019:

• Sixth call between SCWG and SpaceX. ExoAnalytic Solutions gives a Congressional briefing on space debris. 

August 2019:

• AASPPD discusses satellite constellations with the National Space Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. 

Updates from Others

July 2021:

• The full JASON Report on the Impacts of Large Satellite Constellations is now available. 

June 2021:

• On 8-11 June there was a four-day series of seminars hosted by the University of Edinburgh with the British Interplanetary Society, the Open Lunar Foundation and the Institute for Liberal Studies exploring the conditions for freedom beyond Earth. IAU has issued a Call for Proposals for a new Centre for the Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies, specifically focused on the impact of satellite constellations and mitigation solutions, as well as implementation of the solutions and next steps. An announcement went out for the Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society II Workshop on implementing the recommendations from the previous workshop. It will be held in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain 3-7 October 2021. 

May 2021:

• The MIT Native Students Association, MIT Office of Multicultural Programs and MIT's Chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society co-sponsored a discussion of Indigenous views of human space activity on 14 May.

April 2021:

• Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) appealed to acting FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel to address the threat orbital debris poses to spacecraft, the environment, and safety on Earth by regulating satellite constellations and studying their cumulative impact on the environment. The FCC approved the lowering of Starlink orbits to 550 km (from 1150 km).  You can read the ruling here. There is a detailed description of the effects on astronomy in Section 4 “Potential Impact on the Night Sky and Astronomy” (pages 47-50). The FCC referenced AAS’s statement and the SATCON1 report in their ruling. Acknowledgment of our input in their deliberations is a big step forward. Even more notable is the following line of text: " ... we conclude that it nonetheless would serve the public interest under the Communications Act for SpaceX to ensure that it does not unduly
burden astronomy and other research endeavors … ” This sets a precedent for all future arguments made before the FCC that impacts to astronomical observations be considered in rulings. 
   

March 2021:

• NASA and SpaceX signed a joint agreement to share information to improve space safety. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has released a report of its December informational meeting, "Standardization and the Commercial Space Industry – Space Situational and Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Coordination and Management, and Orbital Debris Mitigation".

February 2021:

• Viasat responds on February 4 to the letter filed by SpaceX on the petition that Viasat filed on December 22, 2020. A meeting on Space as a Global Commons had a heavy focus on satellite constellations and the exploitation of the Moon.  

January 2021:

• The German Astronomical Society (AG), the German association of amateur astronomers (VdS) and the Society of German-Speaking Planetariums (GDP) issue a statement on the rapid increase in the number of satellites in the night sky. The United Nations's Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) published the Report and Recommendations of the online workshop "Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society". 

December 2020:

• NASA and the UN sign a memorandum of understanding on peaceful uses of space. Viasat appealed to the FCC to review SpaceX’s plans to reposition to a lower orbit some 3,000 satellites from its Starlink constellation, citing the National Environmental Policy Act. 

November 2020:

• NASA filed an objection at the FCC to the April 2020 petition by US satellite operator AST&Science for a US operating license for its 243-member LEO constellation at 720 km orbital altitude. The April 2020 technical schedule from AST&Science lists the terrestrial mobile frequency bands in which it intends to transmit space-earth below 2 GHz and mis-attributes them to the mobile-satellite service. AST&Science subsequently explained in its October 2020 amended petition and 2 GHz downlink analysis that AST&Science would not operate in the terrestrial mobile spectrum bands when its satellites transmit in the terrestrial mobile spectrum bands below 2 GHz because AST&Science would lease spectrum rights belonging to a willing terrestrial mobile service operator. According to T-Mobile, AST&Science must operate under mobile service rules if it leases spectrum rights to mobile service spectrum from a mobile service operator. AST&Science has registered its constellation through the administration of Papua New Guinea, so the launch is already registered at ITU-R and is not waiting for the FCC. AST&Sciences operations threaten radio astronomy by rendering our terrestrial quiet and coordination zones useless. A Hubble image is photobombed by Starlink. 

• The UK Government secures satellite network OneWeb.

October 2020:

• The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) issued a statement on satellite constellations. The Aerospace Corporation will publish papers on NASA’s Artemis program, the space workforce, space deterrence, space doctrine and light pollution from satellites on Oct. 28.

September 2020:

• The Center for Space Policy and Strategy published "Space Traffic Management: The Challenge of Large Constellations, Orbital Debris, and the Rapid Changes in Space Operations"

May 2020:

• OneWeb announces it is filing for up to 48,000 satellites with the FCC. A batch of FCC filings for OneWeb, Mangata, and ViaSat. 

April 2020:

• FCC Fact Sheet for Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age and an article from the Professional Aerospace Contractors Association on challenges to the FCC's new orbital debris regulations. SpaceX files with the FCC to lower the Starlink orbits. SpaceX itself also issued its own statement and there is a summary with additional context on the AAS website.

March 2020:

• A press release from ESO and AIP FYI's weekly update for for the week of 9 March 2020 covered the AASPPD Hill briefing on satellite constellations.

February 2020:

•  A report by the Institut Montaigne (a French think tank) recommends the European Union write policy governing broadband satellite constellations.The IAU issued a press release "Understanding the Impact of Satellite Constellations on Astronomy". 

December 2019:

• ESO makes a statement on satellite constellations 

October 2019:

• OneWeb submits a letter to the FCC in opposition of SpaceX's applications to expand their Starlink constellation. One week later SpaceX submitted its own letter to the FCC. 

September 2019: 

• Amazon's Kuiper satellite constellation submits a letter to the FCC

August 2019:

• The University of Utah launches first-ever journal of dark sky studies.  

July 2019:

• RAS's statement on Starlink

November 2018:

• SpaceX FCC filing for Starlink 
• Gaspar Bakos (Princeton) also keeps an updates page for satellite constellations.
• Jonathan McDowell (CfA) also keeps an update page for satellites and launches (twitter)
• Olivier Hainaut's simulations page

Publications

• "Report on Mega-Constellations to the Government of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency" by Boley et al. Submitted to CSA on March 31 2021. 
• "Study finds nowhere on Earth is safe from satellite light pollution" by Joshua Sokol. Science. Mar. 2021
• "The proliferation of space objects is a rapidly increasing source of artificial night sky brightness" by M. Kocifaj et al. MNRAS. Mar. 2021 
• "The Brightness of VisorSat-Design Starlink Satellites" by Anthony Mallama. arXiv. Jan. 2021
• "The Brightness of OneWeb Satellites" by Anthony Mallama. arXiv. Dec. 2020
• "Simultaneous Multicolor Observations of Starlink's Darksat by the Murikabushi Telescope with MITSuME" by Takashi Horiuchi et al. ApJ. Dec. 2020
• "The impact of satellite constellations on space as an ancestral global commons" by Aparna Venkatesan et al. Nature Astronomy. Nov. 2020  
• "The challenge of satellite megaconstellations" by Robert Massey, Sara Lucatello & Piero Benvenuti. Nature Astronomy. Nov. 2020
• "A space science boom or death by a thousand small satellites" editorial for Nature Astronomy. Nov. 2020 
• "Dark Skies and Bright Satellites" by Anthony Tyson and Joel Parriott. Science. Sept. 2020
• "Impact of Satellite Constellations on Optical Astronomy and Recommendations Toward Mitigations" by Walker et al. BAAS. Aug. 2020
• "Hopes and Concerns for Astronomy of Satellite Constellations" by Levchenko et al. Nature Astronomy. Jun. 2020
• "Starlink Satellite Brightness Before VisorSat" by Anthony Mallama. arxiv. Jun. 2020
• "The Low Earth Orbit Satellite Population and Impacts of the SpaceX Starlink Constellation" by Jonathan C. McDowell. Ap J Letters. Apr. 2020
• "The Future of the Night Sky: Light Pollution from Satellites" by the Aerospace Corporation. Mar. 2020. 
• Report on impact from LEO satellite constellations by Vera C. Rubin Observatory (last update Mar. 2020) 
• "On the Impact of Satellite Constellations on Astronomical Observations in the Visible and Infrared Domains" by Olivier R. Hainaut and Andrew P. Williams. Astronomy and Astrophysics. Mar. 2020 

News Articles

• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on NSSLGlobal Signs On as Commercial Partner for Telesat Lightspeed
• An article by the Aerospace Corporation (Aug. 2021) on Aerospace Is Redefining the Future of Small Satellites
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Canada Approves NorthStar Earth & Space 52-Satellite Constellation 
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on OneWeb Reveals New Briefcase-Sized OW1 Terminal
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Satellite Data’s Role in the Fight Against Climate Change
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Arianespace’s Soyuz Sends 34 New OneWeb Satellites into Orbit
• An article in Space News (Aug. 2021) onSpaceX wants to give Starship lead role in revised second-gen Starlink plan
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Arianespace Launches Pléiades Neo 4 Satellite for Airbus 
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on AST SpaceMobile Posts First Set of Financial Results Ahead of Prototype Launch
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Teleport Digitalization Will Keep the Ground Segment Versatile
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Mynaric Finalizes $28M Optical Link Deal with SpaceLink 
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Canadian Government Set to Invest $1.4B in Telesat Lightspeed
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Korean Company Hanwha Invests $300M into OneWeb
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on How Satellites and Rockets Lead a Mass Migration to Space
• An article in The Independent (Aug. 2021) on SpaceX to Launch Billboard Satellite that Plays Ads and Hopes ‘People Don't Do Something Inappropriate’
• An article in Futurism (Aug. 2021) on SpaceX Launching Satellite to Display Billboard Ads in Space
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Space Moving Toward Interoperable, Secure Future US Space Command Gen. Says
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on SpaceX Buys Out Satellite IoT Startup Swarm Technologies
• An article in Space Ref (Aug. 2021) on A Report to ESO Council On The Impact of Satellite Constellations
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Ontario Invests $109M into Telesat’s Lightspeed Network 
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Planet Signs Long-Term, Multiple Rideshare Launch Deal with SpaceX
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Maxar Pushes Legion Launch to 2022 After Program Delays
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Telesat Picks ThinKom Antenna for Lightspeed Aircraft Service
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on SES’ Mobility Headwinds Continue Through First Half of 2021
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on SES Taps Gilat’s Mobility Platform for Maritime Customers 
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Orange Signs with SES for Skala Maritime Satellite Service
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Anuvu CEO Looks for Big Flexibility With MicroGEO Constellation
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2021) on Satellite Industry Faces Challenge of Post-Video Reinvention, Analysts Say
• An article in Space News (Jul. 2021) on Astronomers back technical efforts to reduce impacts of satellite megaconstellations while seeking regulatory solutions
• An article in Space News (Jul. 2021) on U.K. to strengthen regulations for Starlink, OneWeb and other NGSO constellations
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Satellite Data’s Role in the Fight Against Climate Change
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Facebook Connectivity Exec Charts a Path for Collaboration With Satellite
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on the Case of President Biden’s Missing FCC Chair Nominee
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Inmarsat CTO Peter Hadinger Explains Strategy Behind Orchestra LEO Network
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Anuvu to Launch Micro-GEO Satellite Constellation With Astranis
• An article in Space News (Jul. 2021) on Air Force enthusiastic about commercial LEO broadband after successful tests
• An article in Forbes (Jul. 2021) on How To Save The Night Sky From Satellite Megaconstellations
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Iridium Reports 19% Billable Subscriber Increase in 2021 Second Quarter Earnings
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Canada’s EarthDaily Plans to Build & Launch a New Imagery Satellite Constellation by 2023
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on OneWeb Hires New Chief Legal Officer
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Understanding the Pieces on the Board in the New Satellite Game
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Sunil Bharti Mittal to Deliver Keynote Address at SATELLITE 2021
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Amazon Acquires Part of Facebook’s Connectivity Team
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Inmarsat’s New CEO Targets ‘Congested’ LEO Environment During UK Speech
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on The 10 Hottest Satellite Companies in 2021
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on LEOcloud Signs Supercomputing Systems Partner Agreement with Ramon.Space
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on SES Signs O3b mPOWER Deal With iSAT Africa
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on ThinKom Developing Q/V-Band Phased Array Antennas for Satellite Constellations 
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Henry Ford Blasts Off: A Satellite Assembly Line Case Study
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Maxar Signs $35M WorldView Legion Capacity Contract 
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on 2021: The Calm Before the Storm
• An article in Via Satellite (Jul. 2021) on Radio telescope faces “extremely concerning” threat from satellite constellations
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on Understanding the Pieces on the Board in the New Satellite Game
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on OneWeb Ready to Connect Northern Hemisphere After Successful Arianespace Launch
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on Gilat Wins Further Orders for LEO Gateways
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on The 10 Hottest Satellite Companies in 2021
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on Bharti to Become OneWeb’s Largest Shareholder With Additional $500M Investment
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on Global Entrepreneurs Practice Their Pitches for Startup Space 2021
• An article in Scientific American (Jun. 2021) on SpaceX Starlink Mega Constellation Faces Fresh Legal Challenge
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on Alaska Communications to Distribute OneWeb’s LEO Connectivity 
• An article in Via Satellite (Jun. 2021) on SpaceX, Telesat Forecast 90% of IFC Service in 10 Years Will Be LEO 
• An article in Space News (Jun. 2021) on Viasat wants FCC to review Starlink’s government funding
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on Ground Segment Manufacturers Face Changes to Leverage Constellation Potential
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on Ground Segment Manufacturers Face Changes to Leverage Constellation Potential
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on Arianespace Launch Brings OneWeb Constellation to 218 satellites
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on US Military Places a Bet on LEO for Space Security
• An article in Space News (May 2021) on UK funds beam-hopping satellite for OneWeb-led consortium in 2022
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on OneWeb to Lead Beam-Hopping Satellite Project Funded by UK
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on Viasat May Seek Stay From DC Circuit for FCC-Approved Starlink Modification
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on Telesat Q121 Revenues Decline Due to Mobility Headwinds 
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on SoftBank Extends Relationship with OneWeb Beyond Investment
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on Google Cloud Signs Deal with SpaceX to Connect with Starlink Satellites
• An article in Via Satellite (May 2021) on OneWeb Acquires its Government Distribution Partner, TrustComm
• An article in Space News (Apr. 2021) on Senators ask GAO to review FCC oversight of satellite constellations
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on Northrop Grumman and the future of in-orbit satellite servicing
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on a conversation with Gwynne Shotwell
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on SES details ground station for O3b mPOWER
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on FCC approving SpaceX request to lower Starlink’s altitude
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on OneWeb constellation reaching 182 satellites
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on optical link Japanese Startup Warpspace  
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on OQ technology signs constellation launch deal with Spaceflight
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on laying the IT groundwork for a crowded space economy
• An article in Space News (Apr. 2021) on China developing plans for a 13,000-satellite megaconstellation
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on satellite broadband market to reach 5 million subscribers by 2026
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on Amazon signing with ULA for 9 Project Kuiper launches
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on EOSDA’s Max Polyakov sharing LEO agriculture constellation plans  
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on how software-defined satellites will shape communications
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on Gilat’s Wavestream receiving $20M in LEO constellation SSPA orders
• An article in Space News (Apr. 2021) on greenhouse gas monitoring constellation Carbon Mapper
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on the top 10 takeaways from SATELLITE 2021’s LEO Digital Forum
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on Lockheed Martin's new line of mid-size ISR satellites
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on Telesat Lightspeed
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on Air Canada banking on LEO technology
• An article in The Verge (Apr. 2021) on OneWeb, SpaceX satellites dodged a potential collision in orbit
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on MDA contracting analog devices for Telesat Lightspeed beam forming tech
• An article in Engadget (Apr. 2021) on entombing the Earth in an impenetrable shell of dead satellites
• An article in The Washington Post (Apr. 2021) on the satellite constellation technology 
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on new LEO constellations driving tech changes on the ground
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on Starlink reaching every rural U.S. household in 5 years
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on operators sparring over satellite broadband market size
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on the rise of the Indian satellite market
• An article in The New York Times (Apr. 2021) on a proposed $100 billion fix for the digital divide
• An article in Via Satellite (Apr. 2021) on former NASA Administrator Bridenstine joins Viasat’s board
• An article in Via Satellite (Mar. 2021) on the Hanwha Systems 2,000-Satellite LEO constellation
• An article in Via Satellite (Mar. 2021) on a new LEO satellite constellation
• An article in Via Satellite (Mar. 2021) on a OneWeb
• An article in Via Satellite (Mar. 2021) on a Starlink
• An article in Via Satellite (Mar. 2021) on a new constellation
• An article in Via Satellite (Mar. 2021) on OneWeb launches
• An article in Space News (Feb. 2021) on the Telesat constellation
• An article in Space Newsfeed (Feb. 2021) on a new constellation to measure nighttime light on Earth
• An article in Sky & Telescope (Jan. 2021) on the brightness of satellite constellations
• An article in Sky & Telescope (Jan. 2021) on the future of satellite constellations
• An article in Space News (Jan. 2021) on the smaller size of OneWeb
• An article in Physics World (Jan. 2021) on dark-coated Starlink satellites
• An article in Space News (Dec. 2020) on Viasat asking the FCC to perform environmental review of Starlink
• An article in Forbes (Dec. 2020) on Hubble's image of the year, one of which was photobombed by Starlink
• An article in Space News (Dec. 2020) on pollutants produced during satellite and rocket reentry
• An article in Via Satellite (Dec. 2020) on Mynaric and laser terminals on megaconstellations for data is transfer in space
• An article from The Conversation (Nov. 2020) on Starlink
• An article in ars technica (Nov. 2020) on NASA's objection to a new megaconstellation
• An article in the Independent (Oct. 2020) on SpaceX
• An article in Quartz (Oct. 2020) on Starlink
• An article in ars technica (Oct. 2020) on Starlink
• An article in Buisness Insider (Oct. 2020) on Starlink
• An article in Air & Space Magazine (Oct. 2020) on Starlink
• An article in The Verge (Sep. 2020) on Starlink
• An article by AIP's FYI (Sep. 2020) on the SATCON1 Report
• An article in Nature (Aug. 2020) on the SATCON1 Report
• An article in EarthSky (Aug. 2020) on the SATCON1 Report
• An article in ars technica (Aug. 2020) on OneWeb's FCC approval for another 1,280 satellites
• An article in Via Satellite (Aug. 2020) on FCC approval of OneWeb's 2,000-Satellite Constellation
• An article from Space News (Aug. 2020) on the SATCON1 Report
• An article from Science (Aug. 2020) on the SATCON1 Report
• An article from the New York Times (Aug. 2020) on Amazon's Kuiper constellation
• An article from Via Satellite (Jul. 2020) on FCC approval for Amazon's Kuiper constellation
• An article from Space News (Jul. 2020) on FCC approval for Amazon's Kuiper constellation
• An article from Via Satellite (Jul. 2020) recapping a LEO constellation webcast 
• An article from Discover Magazine (Jul. 2020) on NASA's satellite tracking citizen science program
• An article from ENewsPlanet (Jul. 2020) on the Starlink photobomb of comet Neowise
• An article from GeekWire (Jul. 2020) on the FCC's approval of the Kuiper constellation
• An article from Forbes (Jul. 2020) on the UK saving OneWeb
• An article from The Telegraph (Jun. 2020) on the UK saving OneWeb 
• An article from Bloomberg Law (Jun. 2020) on the conflict between dish and satellite services
• An article form Space News (Jun. 2020) on FCC evaluation of LEO constellations
• An article from Space News (Jun. 2020) on the presentations at AAS 236
• An article on LinkedIn (May 2020) on a new FCC processing round
• An article from Space News (May 2020) on another satellite constellation
• List of articles from GeekWire on Amazon's Project Kuiper
• An article from GeekWire (May 2020) on Amazon's interest in acquiring OneWeb
• An article from SpaceRef (May 2020) on OneWeb's increase to 48,000 satellites
• An article from Room (Apr. 2020) on ground-based observing
• An article from Space Daily (Apr. 2020) on the Starlink sunshades
• An article from PetaPixel (Apr. 2020) on SpaceX's mitigation plan
• An article from Space News (Apr. 2020) on a new rules proposal for the FCC
• An article from The Telegraph (Apr. 2020) on OneWeb's bankruptcy
• An article from Sky & Telescope (Apr. 2020) on Starlink and astronomy
• An article from SpaceNews (Mar. 2020) on a new megaconstellation startup
• An article from The Space Review (Mar. 2020) on OneWeb and Starlink
• An article from Business Insider (Mar. 2020) on a meeting between European astronomers and SpaceX
• An article from Politico (Mar. 2020) on Astranis, a new type of satellite constellation
• An article from cnet (Mar. 2020) on Elon Musk's comments on Starlink at the SATELLITE2020 conference
• An article from Newsweek (Feb. 2020) on Russian complaints about satellite constellations 
• An article from Bloomberg news (Feb. 2020) on SpaceX considering a public offering of Starlink
• An article from BBC News (Jan. 2020) on Starlink's time constraints to fix the brightness issue
• An article from Scientific American (Jan. 2020) on whether satellite constellations violate environmental law
• An article from SpaceNews (Jan. 2020) on SpaceX's launch schedule for 2020
• An article from SpaceNews (Dec. 2019) on changes to the Starlink satellite constellation 
• An article from SpaceNews (Dec. 2019) on the downsizing of the Sky and Space Global constellation
• An article from SpaceNews (Nov. 2019) on the shutdown of LeoSat
• An article from The New York Times (Nov. 2019) on the negative impacts to astronomy from satellite constellations
• An article from SpaceNews (Sept. 2019) on whether satellite constellations can be responsible users of space 
• An article from SpaceNews (May 2019) on the development of a "space sustainability" rating system 

Social Media Updates

• Verse posted a video on satellite constellations
• Latest simulation of planned satellite constellations
• OneWeb 
• SpaceX

Upcoming Events

October: The Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society II Workshop on implementing the recommendations from the previous workshop will be held in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain 3-7 October 2021.

July: The SATCON2 Workshop will be 12-16 July 2021. The SatelliteAsia conference takes place 14-16 July 2021. 

Participate in a long-term citizen science project to photographically track the population growth of satellites constellations over time. 

If you are interested in just tracking Starlinks on your own with your phone, Pat Seitzer has instructions to accompany this set of coordinates (link changes with each launch). 

You can also post observations here.

Archived Presentations

• The SATCON2 Press Conference from July 2021
• The Wall Street Journal posted a video on "SpaceX vs. China: The Quest for Satellite Internet" in June 2021
• Aerospace CSPS video series 
• Tony Tyson presents to the National Academies' Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA) for their Fall Meeting in November 2020
• The Aerospace Corporation's Space Policy Show had an episode on "Space Agenda 2021"
• The AAS and SIA teamed up again to do a 1-hour informational webinar for the satellite industry on astronomer's concerns about satellite constellations
• Virtual Press Conference on SATCON1 Workshop Report in August 2020
• A Science Friday interview "Who Owns the Night Sky?" with Aparna Venkatesan and James Lowenthal
• AAS 235 and AAS 236 presentations on satellite constellations
• Slides from Joel Parriott (AASPPD) that can at the end of the webinar on satellite constellations in May 2020
• Presentation by Patricia Cooper (SpaceX) from a webinar on satellite constellations in May 2020
• Presentation by Tony Tyson (Vera Rubin Observatory) from a webinar on satellite constellations in May 2020
• Presentation by Pat Seitzer (UMich) for a webinar on satellite constellations in May 2020
• Webinar: From Orbital Debris to GPS vs 5G: Decoding the FCC’s Role in Space Policy
• Aerospace Corporation's Center for Space Policy and Strategy Webinar Series
• Webinar: OneWeb’s Bankruptcy: Impacts and Implications for the Satellite Industry
• During the pandemic, AAS has a page to find live-streamed astronomy presentations and events, some of which cover satellite constellations
• The Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics set up a Space Science Week 2020 page that has many useful presentations archived.
• Presentation by Tony Beasley (Director of NRAO) for a Hill briefing on satellite constellations in Mar. 2020
• Presentation by Piero Benvenuti (IAU) at COPUOS from Feb. 2020 - COPUOS_57th_STSC.pdf
• Press Conference at AAS 235 (Jan. 2020) "Astronomy Confronts Satellite Constellations" 

Additional Information 

• Native Skywatchers Initiative

• AST Space Mobile's website

• Lockheed Martin's Satellite Constellation App

• Example of dark sky tourism

• heavens-above.com

• spaceintelreport.com

• spacepolicyonline.com

• space-track.org