MORNING SENTINEL • February 25, 2023
More than 5,000 commercially operated satellites occupy low-Earth orbit and the Federal Communications Commission is processing permits for over 430,000 more. Satellites power some of the most incredible aspects of modern life but they also pose a serious threat to the future of ground-based astronomy. The human race has been awed and humbled by the vastness of space since at least the dawn of recorded history. If left unchecked, commercial enterprises launching these satellites could deprive future generations of this experience, replacing the night sky with a ceiling of artificial light. Who should control what we see in the night sky? ~ Jonathan H. Strieff, South China