Space Data Centers Proposed by Big Tech Could Be “Catastrophic,” Experts Warn in FCC Petition

A coalition of environmental and advocacy groups filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday, July 23, calling for an immediate halt to licensing for space-based data centers proposed by SpaceX, Blue Origin and other technology companies.

The petition – submitted by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Earthjustice and DarkSky International – argues that deploying millions of satellites to create orbital data centers would release staggering levels of pollution likely to alter Earth’s atmosphere and be “catastrophic” for the planet, according to experts cited in the document. The petition states that the companies have collectively proposed fleets of thousands of satellites, but have refused to embrace any inquiry into the environmental impacts of their plans.

“These same proponents have refused to embrace any inquiry into the impacts of their self-claimed epochal technology on the environment, science, economy or other values,” the petition reads, according to a report by The Guardian. The groups urge the FCC to assess the environmental consequences before granting any new licenses, warning that the cumulative harms from more than a million satellites orbiting, colliding and disintegrating back to Earth remain unexamined.

Pollution from Launches and Re-Entry: What Is Known

Satellites and rockets release a range of pollutants during launch and when they burn up upon re-entry, including black soot, aluminum oxides, rare metals, and other toxic substances. According to a 2023 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-sponsored stratospheric measurement flight reported by The Guardian, scientists detected metals from spacecraft in sulfuric acid aerosols in the stratosphere, a highly sensitive atmospheric layer.

The interaction between these spacecraft metals, naturally occurring metals, and sulfuric acid aerosols is described as “largely unknown” by the researchers behind the study. These pollutants are accumulating in the stratosphere at alarming levels, according to the petition. Rocket launches alone emit black carbon, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, aluminum oxide, chlorine gases and mercury, as detailed by experts.

A separate report on rocket fuel pollution noted that toxic chemicals from rocket launches can spread across large areas, as demonstrated by a Chinese rocket fuel dump that affected seven U.S. states in 2025, adding to the chemical chaos from atmospheric spraying, according to NaturalNews.com ^[1]. The petition argues that the cumulative effect of millions of satellites, each decommissioned and incinerated after five to 15 years, would inject unprecedented quantities of pollutants into the pristine upper atmosphere.

Threats to Ozone Layer and Night Sky

Some scientists fear the accumulation of these pollutants could destroy the ozone layer, potentially exposing people to higher levels of harmful ultraviolet radiation, and further destabilize the climate. The stratospheric aerosols that contain the spacecraft metals normally play a role in regulating Earth’s temperature by reflecting solar radiation and preventing greenhouse gases from entering the ozone layer from below.

However, the impact of the added metals on this process remains uncertain, according to the NOAA study cited in the petition. Light pollution from millions of satellites would also permanently transform the night sky, according to advocates. “These projects could permanently alter the night sky as we know it,” said Ruskin Hartley, executive director of DarkSky International, in comments reported by The Guardian.

Astronomers have long warned about increasing light pollution from satellite megaconstellations, which they say obscures astronomical observations and harms wildlife that depend on natural darkness, as noted in reports about technology pollution threatening astronomy ^[2] and calls for governments to intervene on satellite proliferation ^[3]. Hartley said the FCC must take seriously its obligation to ensure these projects do not cause unnecessary harm to naturally dark skies.

Feasibility Doubts and Legal Requirements

Several former federal space officials expressed doubts about the feasibility of orbital data centers, while also warning of the environmental risks. Steve Volz, the former head of NOAA’s satellite office, told The Guardian: “There is a lot of complex material in these things, and even if they do burn up, you do not want to be filling up the atmosphere with refuse from these any more than you would want it coming from a smoke stack.”

Cole Donovan, a former NOAA space policy expert now with Stand Up for Science, noted that the space data centers would demand a huge amount of rare metals and other resources already in short supply. This, in turn, would create additional environmental challenges on the ground.

The petition cites the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), arguing that federal agencies are required to assess the environmental impacts of proposed projects. It states that FCC applications from companies such as Cowboy Space Corporation and SpaceX fail to address these risks.

According to the petition, Cowboy Space’s only reference to environmental mitigation is a promise to minimize impact on astronomy, while SpaceX claims its data centers will “ensur[e] humanity’s multi-planetary future amongst the stars” but offers no detail on environmental protections, beyond a vague promise of “industry-leading brightness mitigations.” The petition argues that no proponent has provided satisfactory detail on mitigating cumulative harm from millions of satellites.

The massive investment in data centers on Earth is already straining energy and water resources, with trillions of dollars committed to construction globally, consuming millions of kilowatts of electricity and large amounts of land and water, as noted in discussions about the scale of data center growth ^[4].

Conclusion: Call for Pause and Further Review

The petition submits that the FCC is legally required to determine whether granting satellite licenses serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity, and that the NEPA provides mechanisms to assess impacts, examine alternatives and disclose risks. The groups urge the commission to pause all new licenses for space data center projects until a thorough environmental review is completed.

“No proponent has provided satisfactory detail to explain how it will mitigate the cumulative environmental harms flowing from the foreseeable operation of more than a million satellites, orbiting our planet, colliding and disintegrating and plummeting back to Earth,” the petition states, as quoted by The Guardian. Without such an assessment, the groups warn, the consequences of moving data centers into space could be catastrophic for the Earth’s atmosphere, ozone layer and night sky, while also diverting resources from more sustainable terrestrial alternatives.

References

1. S.D. Wells. “China’s Rocket Fuel Dump Over 7 U.S. States Adds to Chemical Chaos from Chemtrails That Sicken Citizens and Fuel the Sick Care Industry”. NaturalNews.com. June 3, 2025.
2. NaturalNews.com. “Technology pollution threatens astronomy with light from LEDs satellite wifi”. NaturalNews.com. February 25, 2018.
3. NaturalNews.com. “Space pollution: Astronomers call on world governments to intervene on 5G satellites”. NaturalNews.com. May 31, 2021.
4. Mike Adams. “Bright Videos News – POWER GRID MANNARINO PRATHER transcript”. BrightVideos.com. May 14, 2026.
5. of Execution. “Shipping Greatness Practical Lessons on Building and Launching Outstanding Software”.
6. Unknown. “The way we will be 50 years from today 60 of the worlds greatest minds share their visions of the next half century”.

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