Anonymous12 days ago
SpaceX crossed the 10,000 active Starlink satellite threshold on March 17, 2026, making it the largest orbital constellation in history and intensifying a global debate over satellite light pollution versus internet connectivity. The milestone comes as astronomers warn that up to 30% of images from major observatories may be contaminated by satellite trails, while Starlink now serves over 9 million subscribers, many in underserved regions. With China's Guowang and Amazon's Kuiper constellations preparing to add tens of thousands more satellites by 2030, the question of who controls the night sky — and who benefits from its transformation — has become one of the defining science-policy conflicts of the decade.