The massive sending of satellites into low orbit by the American SpaceX for its Starlink constellation does not satisfy everyone.
This creates a "risk of de facto monopolization" of space which is detrimental to the sustainability of its exploitation, denounced Arianespace boss Stéphane Israël.
“We want a space that remains accessible to human activities (…) but we refuse a Wild West space.
It is really our responsibility to ensure that low orbit [less than 1,000 kilometers from Earth] is sustainably practicable, ”he said Wednesday in Geneva during a conference on the place of space. in the sustainable development goals set by the UN.
More than 1,600 Starlink satellites already deployed
Out of more than 9,000 satellites placed in orbit since 1957, “Space X has already deployed 1,677 satellites for Starlink, which means that today, of all the satellites in operation, 35% belong to a man, Elon Musk, and if you take satellites weighing more than 50 kg, that's more than 50%, ”Stéphane Israël recalled. Several collisions have already been avoided in recent years, at least two of which involved Starlink satellites, he recalled.
The boss of Arianespace also warned against the "risk of de facto monopolization, a sort of right of the first occupant".
"It's a bit on what our competitor is betting on, which is deploying Starlink satellites at a very rapid rate and trying to create a situation that puts him in a favorable balance of power compared to the regulatory authorities, in particular the FCC [the Federal Commission of American communications], to obtain the associated rights, ”he said.
In total, SpaceX has requested permission to launch up to 42,000 satellites from the FCC.
Science
Starlink: SpaceX's internet service has already received 500,000 pre-orders
High-Tech
Internet: Google partners with SpaceX and its Starlink satellites to improve broadband access
Elon musk
Ariadne
Satellite
Space
SpaceX
Science