A coalition of environmental advocacy groups has petitioned the FCC to halt licensing for orbital data centers, arguing that their construction violates federal law and poses significant environmental risks.

The petition, filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Environment America, and DarkSky International, highlights concerns about ozone depletion, climate disruption, and light pollution caused by thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit.

Proponents like SpaceX and Blue Origin plan to deploy millions of satellites, which could release pollutants during launches and reentries, exacerbating atmospheric degradation.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts before approving projects, but the petition claims these risks are being overlooked.

Scientists warn that light pollution from satellite constellations could disrupt ecosystems and human health, while legal experts argue the FCC's current framework fails to address long-term ecological consequences.The debate underscores tensions between technological advancement and regulatory oversight in an era of rapid space industrialization.