Eco groups petition FCC to halt orbital data center plans

A coalition of environmental groups has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to halt approvals for proposed "orbital data centers," warning that plans by several major aerospace companies could place more than a million new satellites into low-Earth orbit with potentially catastrophic environmental consequences. The petition, filed on July 8, 2026, by DarkSky International, Environment America, and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility through the law firm Earthjustice, calls for a comprehensive environmental review before any licenses are granted.

The petition targets applications submitted this year by SpaceX, Starcloud, Blue Origin, and Cowboy Space Corporation. These companies seek FCC permission to deploy vast constellations of satellites designed to host artificial intelligence computing infrastructure in space, a concept proponents describe as shifting significant data operations off-planet. Collectively, these proposals could dramatically increase the number of objects in orbit over the next decade.

Environmental advocates argue the FCC is legally obligated under the National Environmental Policy Act to study the cumulative impact of these pending...