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Lots of Shade on Satellite Constellations

Michael B. Lund

Abstract

The high frequency of satellite launches, particularly over the last few years, has been a subject of significant concern, particularly relating to the future of observational astronomy, the stability of low Earth orbits, and environmental impacts. We call attention to the insufficiently-addressed silver lining of this looming satellite cloud. If the high rates of satellites continue as we model, we can expect the solar flux received by the Earth to significantly decrease in the relatively near future. We address how this decrease in flux could provide a solution for another major problem, anthropogenic climate change. This would allow us to solve one problem with another problem as early as late March 2031.

Lots of Shade on Satellite Constellations

Abstract

The high frequency of satellite launches, particularly over the last few years, has been a subject of significant concern, particularly relating to the future of observational astronomy, the stability of low Earth orbits, and environmental impacts. We call attention to the insufficiently-addressed silver lining of this looming satellite cloud. If the high rates of satellites continue as we model, we can expect the solar flux received by the Earth to significantly decrease in the relatively near future. We address how this decrease in flux could provide a solution for another major problem, anthropogenic climate change. This would allow us to solve one problem with another problem as early as late March 2031.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 9 sections, 3 equations, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background
  3. Sun on Earth
  4. Satellite Impacts
  5. Data and Methods
  6. Data
  7. Analysis
  8. Summary
  9. Acknowledgements

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Active satellites as a function of time. The multiple bends when plotted logarithmically indicate a single exponential function can't fit this data.
  • Figure 2: Active satellites as a function of time. Data is represented by blue circles, while the best-fit exponential and superexponential functions are represented by orange triangles and green crosses, respectively.