#spaceenvironmentalism — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #spaceenvironmentalism, aggregated by home.social.
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The story of humanity in space is still being written, but the ink is drying fast.
CSE co-founders John Barentine and Aparna Venkatesan have published a new call to action in Frontiers in Space Technologies. They argue that we must look beyond outdated treaties to secure a just and sustainable future.
We have the agency to decide what happens next. Let’s build a future by design, not by default.
Read: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1748406/full
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Is the Outer Space Treaty becoming a "League of Nations" for the cosmos?
In a new Opinion piece for Frontiers, we argue that existing space governance isn't fit for the era of private satellite megaconstellations. To protect our shared heritage, we need a shift toward "Space Environmentalism."
We still have the chance to build a future by design rather than by default—if we act before these norms are set in stone.
Read more: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1748406/full
#SpacePolicy #Astronomy #SciencePolicy #SpaceEnvironmentalism
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Today CSE filed our Reply Comment with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission challenging Reflect Orbital's application to commercialize the night sky. We maintain that the FCC must uphold legal mandates by requiring a comprehensive environmental review before granting any authority that alters our shared nighttime environment.
Read our full filing here: https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/actions/public-statements-and-comments/reflect-orbital-reply-comment-2026
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"Reducing the amount of debris orbiting Earth in space requires more international cooperation, the acting CEO of the Saudi Space Agency said at a Riyadh event on Monday. Speaking at the opening address of the Space Debris Conference 2026, Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi highlighted the importance of tackling waste orbiting the planet."
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We have published our Manifesto, a document that lays out the rationale for the existence of CSE, summarizes our vision for humanity's future in #space, and calls people, governments and private actors everywhere to take action to realize that future.
Read the document here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18283974
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The Trump Administration's recent executive order loosening regulatory oversight of U.S. #space #launch facilities led us to issue our first public position, which is opposed to weakening crucial environmental protections at and near launch sites. Read our position and the evidence that supports it here: https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/actions/positions/us-launch-site-nepa-eo
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"The ideal of a dark and quiet sky is one many astronomers fight to protect. ... Preservation of the night sky across the electromagnetic spectrum is an extension of the stewardship of a human environment that now goes beyond our planet and reaches toward the cosmic ocean. It is also key to the future of astronomical discoveries."
https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/online/44173/Threats-to-the-dark-and-quiet-sky
#Astronomy #RadioAstronomy #LightPollution #Satellites #Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism
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"With the rapid expansion of commercial space flight, thousands of satellites are being launched each year. Yet few owners have plans to remove them from orbit in a controlled way. Everyone, everywhere — on Earth’s surface, flying in aeroplanes, as well as in space — is increasingly at risk from these projectiles. Space-faring nations and companies must urgently address this threat."
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00797-7
#SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceDebris #Space #SpacePolicy
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"Satellite technology has transitioned from a tool of scientific exploration to a
mechanical entity of global control. This paper argues that modern satellite technology reinforces capitalist and patriarchal structures, concentrating power in the hands of the elite." -
Springer International has just released "Space Ecology: From Earth to Moon and Mars", by Patrizia Caraveo. The book "extends the concept of environmental protection to orbital space, which should be used in a sustainable way."
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-78344-9
#SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceSustainability #SpacePolicy
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We are proud to announce the launch of the Center for Space Environmentalism!
CSE is a group of scholars and experts who inform and advocate for issues pertaining to the protection of the increasingly crowded #space environment. It is intended in part to counter the prevailing narrative about the 'inevitable' commercial development and exploitation of outer space. We welcome dialog and interaction with anyone interested in these topics.
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🚀 The Center for Space Environmentalism (CSE) has launched!
🪐 CSE is a group of scholars and experts who inform and advocate for issues pertaining to the protection of the increasingly crowded space environment. It is intended in part to counter the prevailing narrative about the 'inevitable' commercial development and exploitation of outer space. We welcome dialog and interaction with anyone interested in these topics.
💪🏼 I am proud to participate in this effort with my colleagues @salvabara, @planet4589, @sundogplanets and others.
🐘 Follow us on Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@space_environmentalism
🌎 And visit our website: https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpacePolicy #Satellites #SpaceDebris
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Bad news for the impact of increasing rocket launches on the terrestrial #environment: "Our ‘ambitious’ scenario (2,040 launches/year) leads to a -0.29% depletion in annual-mean, near-global total column #ozone, relative to a simulation with no rocket launches. Antarctic springtime ozone decreases by 3.9%. Our ‘conservative’ scenario (884 launches/year) leads to a -0.17% annual depletion; current licensing rates suggest this scenario may be exceeded sooner than 2030."
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5837547/v1
#SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #Space #SpaceSustainability
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"At this critical moment, the public is largely unaware of its dependence on #space. ... This is why we are calling now for the creation and development of a new topic in environmental education called 'space literacy' to complement contemporary space science instruction."
https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4942/1
#SpaceLiteracy #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #Environment
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"This potential treasure hunt in space has sparked discussions about ownership laws, space ethics, and environmental implications. As these celestial bodies could herald an era where space becomes a frontier for industry and sustainable energy, they invoke questions about the regulation of extraterrestrial resource claims."
https://www.scimag.news/news-en/130047/asteroids-to-power-the-future-space-mining-revolution-begins/
#Space #SpaceMining #SpaceLaw #SpaceEthics #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceSustainability
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"Dr Coogan added that as space is used more for various purposes, it's crucial to protect both the space environment and the Earth's environment. 'What we do in space really is for the benefit of Earth,' she added."
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"During the conference launch, Joanne Wheeler, Director of ESSI, highlighted a crucial yet often overlooked aspect, namely: 'Space is part of our Earth’s ecosystem – our home,' and 'What we do in space is an extension of our life on Earth.'"
https://www.aerosociety.com/news/protecting-a-global-space-resource/
#Space #SpaceSustainability #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceDebris #OrbitalCrowding
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"Having lots of new satellites potentially operating in VLEO is going to make for a complicated environment." (via @bbc_future)
#Space #Satellites #VLEO #SpaceSustainability #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceDebris
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"Astronomers noted that over 120 Starlink satellites re-entered Earth's atmosphere in January alone. ... While the re-entries produce visually stunning fireballs, they also raise concerns about atmospheric pollution."
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceX #Starlink #Atmosphere #Reentry #Pollution #Environment
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We're going to lose the unique environment of the #Moon for doing cutting-edge #astronomy before we ever get there — "potentially as soon as 2028."
https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/departments/beating-the-fear-of-darkness/
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Notable quote in this podcast interview: because the Outer Space Treaty forbids territorial or sovereignty claims in space, it also implies the unavailability of resources for exploitation.
#Space #SpaceLaw #SpacePolicy #OuterSpaceTreaty #OST #sovereignty #resources #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism
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"Experts say we need to recognize the pollution of the #moon and its orbits, and then #Mars will entail. We advocate for the need for binding rules to safeguard #Earth orbits, plus the orbits of moon and Mars from space debris contamination. The need today is towards effective action to keep outer #space orbital resources safe and sustainable, and for any #mining operations be governed by equitable and effective international #regulation." (via @physorg_com)
https://phys.org/news/2025-02-ocean-floor-oversights-space-debris.html
#Space #SpaceLaw #SpacePolicy #Sustainability #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism
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"[T]here is no concept of 'international crime' for pollution in outer space. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has discussed harm to future generations, and this could include the degradation of the space environment."
"Wheeler highlighted an example in Belgium where the law could be about to change. Article 96 of the new Belgian Criminal Code includes the crime of 'ecocide.' This relates to 'the intentional destruction of the natural environment, and this includes outer space. This is a really interesting concept,' Wheeler said."
#Space #Satellites #SpaceDebris #SpaceLaw #SpacePolicy #ICJ #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #Ecocide
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Here's a great explainer video on "the runaway debris threat to space technology" from the Financial Times.
https://channels.ft.com/en/tech/the-runaway-debris-threat-to-space-technology/
#Satellites #SpaceDebris #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism
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Controlled de-orbiting of #satellites at end of mission is a responsible practice and @SpaceX deserves credit for doing so.
But this entails depositing an unknown amount of material in the upper #atmosphere, with presently unknown #environmental effects. We don't know how much of which metals this involves, but "burning" things up in the atmosphere involves ablation and vaporization of materials. There are legitimate concerns that this may upset the thermal balance of the atmosphere, amounting to a giant uncontrolled #geoengineering experiment.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/mass-retirement-spacex-spotted-deorbiting-dozens-of-starlink-satellites
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“'The #Moon seems so far outside of our scope,' said the organization’s president and chief executive. 'But with humans venturing more and more into space, we think it is the right time to get ourselves organized.'”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/arts/world-monuments-fund-moon-endangered.html
#SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #Lunar #Conservation #Policy
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"Currently, the UN recognizes 17 SDGs, introduced in 2015 to inspire global efforts to eliminate poverty, safeguard the #environment, and promote prosperity. However, the increasing presence of #satellites and other objects in Earth's orbit is prompting concerns about its future. Without coordinated international action, this once-pristine #SpaceEnvironment could face irreversible damage.
"In a study published in the journal One Earth, an international team of experts in fields ranging from satellite technology to ocean plastic pollution proposed the creation of an 18th #SDG dedicated to Earth's orbital environment."
https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/A_Sustainable_Development_Goal_for_Earths_Orbit_999.html
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From the editorial board of the Washington Post today: "Space is, for the most part, a vast, impersonal vacuum. But the part of it that includes our small precinct of the universe is a human-influenced environment upon which society depends. Increasingly, people need to think of it that way."
#Space #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceEnvironment #Environment #SpaceSustainability
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"That sense of ethical obligation for the non-living features of our universe echoes the values of many cultures on Earth. There is a growing appreciation for Indigenous knowledge, whether that pertains to traditional fire management practices, or considering the needs of future generations when managing resources. Perhaps we can extend those perspectives to the cosmos."
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Main conclusion of this new @uspirg Education Fund report: "The new space race doesn’t need to create massive space waste."
#Space #SpaceSustainability #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpacePolicy