Megaconstellations risk turning space into a technological wild west

The risk of space becoming a technological "far west" under the weight of millions of satellites poses a danger to the economy, science, and the environment, according to experts at the Cospar space research congress in Florence. The risks from megaconstellations like Starlink, which currently has about 10,000 satellites and could quadruple, were a main topic at the congress. Piero Benvenuti noted a "legislative gap" internationally, saying legal tools are still missing to address the issue. Projections suggest up to 3 million satellites could be launched within a few years. These satellites, primarily for internet services, cause unwanted effects including scientific interference, environmental risks from burning up in the atmosphere, and orbital overcrowding from potential debris-generating explosions.