Satellite Constellation Internet Affordability and Need

Rawls, Meredith L.; Thiemann, Heidi B.; Chemin, Victor; Walkowicz, Lucianne; Peel, Mike W. and Grange, Yan G. (2020). Satellite Constellation Internet Affordability and Need. Research Notes of the AAS, 4(10), article no. 189.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/2515-5172/abc48e

Abstract

Large satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit seek to be the infrastructure for global broadband Internet and other telecommunication needs. We briefly review the impacts of satellite constellations on astronomy and show that the Internet service offered by these satellites will primarily target populations where it is unaffordable, not needed, or both. The harm done by tens to hundreds of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites to astronomy, stargazers worldwide, and the environment is not acceptable.

Viewing alternatives

Metrics

Item Actions

Export

You can export this page using these formats Digital Object Identifier - DOI