WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Mike Crapo introduced the bipartisan Dark and Quiet Skies Act to preserve the night sky from unintentional light and radio interference that disrupts industry and academic space research.
“Light and radio pollution from satellites are keeping space’s mysteries beyond our reach,” said Hickenlooper. “Preserving the darkness of the night sky will amplify our research.”
“The peace and splendor of Idaho’s wilderness at night is something to behold. With the advancement of space technology, these truly majestic spaces are becoming fewer. Establishing a Center of Excellence for Dark and Quiet Skies is a cause worth pursuing,” said Crapo.
Scientific and commercial space observations can be disrupted by the light and radio transmission of passing satellites. In the last five years, the number of satellites in orbit increased from 2,200 to over 9,000 satellites. By 2030, current estimates predict there will be over 500,000.
The Dark and Quiet Skies Act would create a Center of Excellence overseen by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop best practices to reduce light and noise interference. The Center would boost collaboration between the astronomical community, industry, and Federal agencies to protect federally-funded scientific research that observes the sky and celestial bodies.
“According to data from the citizen science project Globe at Night, the night sky is growing about 10% brighter each year. In addition to the aesthetic value of dark and quiet skies, there is tremendous educational and scientific value. Senator Hickenlooper’s Dark and Quiet Skies Act will provide essential infrastructure and resources needed to preserve and protect scientific space observations,” said David Brain, Chair of the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.
“Senators Hickenlooper and Crapo are to be commended for encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and government to ensure the space industry can grow without negatively impacting scientific research,” said Audrey Schaffer, Vice President of Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace, a leading U.S. space domain awareness company. “Establishing a Center of Excellence for Dark and Quiet Skies would accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies and techniques to help satellite operators understand and mitigate their impact on astronomy research. Thank you Senator Hickenlooper and Senator Crapo for your leadership on this emerging issue.”
“We thank Senators Hickenlooper and Crapo for their leadership towards the establishment of a Center of Excellence for Dark and Quiet Skies. By acting as a hub for collaboration and technology development, this Center will help protect federal investments in astronomy research while supporting the growth of the commercial space sector,” said Dr. Dara Norman, President of the American Astronomical Society.
“DarkSky International endorses the Dark and Quiet Skies Act as a crucial step against satellite proliferation. While aimed at protecting astronomical research, we urge expanding the dialogue to include more voices. Dark skies enrich rural economies, preserve Indigenous knowledge, protect nocturnal ecosystems, and inspire wonder. Our cosmic view is a shared heritage that we all have a stake in protecting,” said Ruskin Hartley, CEO of DarkSky International.
Specifically, the Center would:
- Establish and circulate best practices to reduce unintentional optical and radio interference
- Conduct research and development on tracking, identifying, modeling, and characterizing satellite interference
- Develop mitigation technology that includes satellite paint, film, orientation adjustments, cooling techniques, or fuselage design
One pager of the bill available HERE and full text available HERE.
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