The UN Committee Will Discuss The Dangers Of Satellite Constellation

The UN committee will discuss the issue of the constellation of satellites (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA The United Nations (UN) Committee for Peaceful Utilization of Space (COPUOS) will study the various disturbances and dangers posed by the constellation of satellites.

Citing fromSpacenews, COPUOS members who attended the scientific and technical subcommittee meeting earlier this month agreed to add a new agenda on astronomical challenges at the meeting in 2025 to 2029.

This new agenda will be titled Langit Dark and Calm, astronomy and a big constellation: addressing issues that arise and challenges. Before it is added, the agenda needs to be approved by all members of COPUOS in June.

With the creation of the agenda, COPUOS will discuss several concerns surrounding the emergence of a constellation of satellites, ranging from satellite transmissions that can disrupt radio astronomy to sunlight reflections from dangerous satellites.

One astronomer at the University of Arizona, Richard Green, said that the addition of an agenda to the dangers of this constellation of satellites was a good decision. The reason is, satellite launches are getting more massive and stakeholders must act immediately.

We have worked hard to raise awareness of this issue to all relevant parties and at all levels. It is great to see the UN realize the importance of this and agree to see the problems and challenges posed by the big constellation," Green said, quoted on Wednesday, February 21.

Last year, discussions on the dangers of this constellation of satellites were proposed as one of the COPUOS agendas. However, the UN committee operates with a consensus system or mutual agreement. Currently, COPUOS members reach 103 countries.

Not all countries agreed to discuss the issue. If a country says it does not agree to discuss the issue, then the discussion will be canceled and COPUOS will not continue its agenda.