New Framework Could Protect Earth's Night Sky for Generations

The world might finally get a way to protect the night sky we've gazed at for millennia, thanks to an innovative legal framework proposed by space lawyers Gregory Radisic and Natalie Gillespie.

Their Dark Skies Impact Assessment offers a systematic approach to evaluate how satellite proposals affect everything from scientific research to Indigenous ceremonies. The framework fills a critical gap in current regulations, which focus almost entirely on technical details while missing broader cultural and environmental impacts.

The timing couldn't be more crucial. As of February 2026, about 14,000 active satellites orbit Earth, but an additional 1.23 million satellite projects are in development. SpaceX's recent proposal alone requests approval for up to 1 million satellites to power space-based data centers.

These megaconstellations reflect sunlight for about two hours after sunset and before sunrise, appearing as moving points of light across the sky. Back in 2021, astronomers estimated that within a decade, 1 in every 15 visible points in the night sky would be a moving satellite, based on just 65,000 proposed satellites at the time.

The proposed assessment acknowledges what current regulations overlook: the night sky holds value beyond technical considerations. Indigenous communities rely on clear skies for oral traditions, navigation, hunting, and spiritual practices. Astronomers need dark skies for scientific discovery. Every culture throughout human history has looked up at essentially the same view until now.

Current approval processes examine launch safety and radio frequencies but don't capture how hundreds of thousands of bright satellites transform our shared sky. Countries, not companies, bear liability under international space law for harm caused by their space objects, yet existing frameworks struggle to address cultural impacts and long-term environmental changes.

The assessment proposal comes as public comment periods open for major satellite applications. Space lawyers are working to ensure corporations and private individuals can be held accountable as risks of damage, environmental harm, and cultural loss grow.

The Bright Side

This legal innovation represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking solution needed before problems become permanent. Unlike attempting to remove millions of satellites after deployment, the Dark Skies Impact Assessment would evaluate proposals before approval, when decision makers still have options.

The framework transforms an emerging crisis into an opportunity for thoughtful progress. By recognizing that technical advancement and cultural preservation aren't opposing forces, the assessment creates space for both innovation and protection of what humanity has always treasured.

Several regulatory bodies are already considering how to incorporate broader impact reviews into their approval processes. The conversation has shifted from whether to regulate to how to regulate wisely.

For the first time, we have tools to ensure today's kids can grow up seeing the same night sky every previous generation experienced while still benefiting from satellite technology.