Artificial satellites , light pollution ... 'Dark and quiet sky' needed [Space now]

The Milky Way taken from the International Space Station (ISS). Behind the round Earth, endlessly shining stars are densely packed. [Photo = NASA]



International astronomers have raised their voices regarding the 'Dark and Quiet Skies (DQS)'. As the era of private-led NewSpace unfolds, they point out that indiscriminate launching of artificial satellites could become a problem for the development of space science in the future.



SpaceX in the US has announced that it will launch up to 40,000 'Starlink' satellite constellations. This could cause a 'satellite traffic jam' phenomenon in low Earth orbit. The diagnosis is that if the space is limited and filled with artificial satellites, side effects will occur one after another.



Not only SpaceX, but also space companies around the world are competing to launch artificial satellites into Earth's orbit. With tens of thousands of artificial satellites in Earth's orbit, it is expected that it will be difficult to observe stars.



SpaceX is expected to launch about 40,000 'satellites' into low Earth orbit for the Starlink service. [Photo = SpaceX]



There are growing voices calling for a somewhat orderly and internationally agreed-upon satellite management system. The interpretation is that if we become obsessed with indiscriminate 'quantitative growth', it will become a global problem in the future.



The Korean Astronomical Society (Chairman Park Byung-gon) announced on the 3rd that it supports the protection of Dark and Quiet Skies (DQS). The Korean Astronomical Society plays a role in informing the public of the importance of sustainable space activities through the protection of Dark and Quiet Skies. It said that it will cooperate with related domestic and international organizations and institutions. The Korean Astronomical Society announced a related



statement on the 3rd to agree with the resolution supporting the protection of 'Dark and Quiet Skies' adopted at the 32nd General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in August last year.



As the number of satellites rapidly increases, concerns about light pollution, which reflects sunlight and radiates radio waves of a specific frequency in space, are beginning to surface.



'Protecting the Dark and Quiet Skies' refers to activities that aim to reduce artificial light pollution and radio interference to support astronomical observations and minimize their negative impacts on the ecosystem and human life.



The International Astronomical Union will launch the 'Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Skies from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS)' in 2022 to raise awareness of related issues and find solutions on the international stage.



Recently, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space decided to discuss DQS as an official agenda for five years starting in 2025. The Korean Astronomical



Society supports the South Korean government's position on protecting 'dark and quiet skies' and proposed that the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute establish more practical policies.



It predicted that the rapid growth of space exploration and the space industry in the 21st century, represented by the NewSpace era, will provide great opportunities for the future of humanity. The development of space communication technology by private companies and its spillover into related industries can provide a glimpse into the infinite potential for the advancement of human welfare.



It diagnosed that communications using satellite constellations are changing the existing paradigm of communications by connecting every corner of the Earth in real time. It emphasized that the problem lies in side effects.



The Korean Astronomical Society stated, "Technological development is very important, but on the other hand, side effects are also appearing." It said, "The reflected light from satellite constellations brightens the night sky, which hinders celestial observations using ground-based optical telescopes, and radio interference hinders scientific activities that observe space radio waves using ground-based radio telescopes." It pointed out that



protecting the starry night sky is important not only for astronomy, but also in the sense that it preserves humanity's cultural and aesthetic heritage, thereby maintaining our identity and imagination as humans.



The Korean Astronomical Society asserted that in order to develop space sustainably, these points must be taken into consideration and damage must be minimized.



At the 32nd General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union held in Cape Town, South Africa in August 2024, a resolution entitled "Protection of the Dark and Quiet Skies from Harmful Interference by Satellite" was adopted. At the



United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space held in June 2023, the South Korean delegation expressed its support for the protection of "dark and quiet skies."



Seok Ji-yeon, Executive Director of the Korean Astronomical Society, explained, "DQS means that we should not follow the path of the Industrial Revolution, which focused only on development and growth without considering the environment," and "It is an international movement to think together about what parts are needed for sustainability and the benefit of humanity even when launching artificial satellites."



Finally, the Korean Astronomical Society requested that the Korean government continue to actively and continuously work on the agenda of protecting "dark and quiet skies" in the international community.





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