LEO Satellite Basics
Name one company operating a LEO satellite megaconstellation.
SpaceX, Amazon, or OneWeb
Name one greenhouse gas or pollutant emitted by rocket launches.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), black carbon, water vapor, aluminum oxide, etc
Which global initiative is advanced by providing broadband to unconnected communities?
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
How does the emissions intensity per subscriber of GEO systems compare to LEO in the baseline scenario?
GEO systems are much lower (21 kg vs. 250 kg CO2eq/subscriber/year).
What paradox do policymakers face regarding LEO satellite broadband?
Balancing the benefits of connectivity with the environmental costs ("space sustainability paradox")
What does LEO stand for?
Low Earth Orbit
What is the main environmental concern with LEO satellite launches?
Greenhouse gas emissions
What does SCC stand for?
Social Cost of Carbon
Which provides higher mean peak capacity: LEO or GEO?
LEO (on average, four times higher)
Name one proposed way to make LEO megaconstellations more sustainable.
Improve rocket design and fuels; implement stronger regulations; develop sustainability metrics
What is the main purpose of LEO satellite broadband?
To provide broadband internet to remote and rural areas
In the worst-case scenario, what is the annual CO2 emissions per LEO subscriber?
Range of 100
469 kg CO2eq/subscriber/year
What is the estimated total SCC for Starlink under the worst-case scenario?
$1.1 billion
What is the main technical advantage of LEO broadband over GEO broadband?
Lower latency and higher data rates
What does the article suggest about the future scale of LEO satellite launches?
It will increase dramatically
Which LEO project plans to launch 3,236 satellites in its first phase?
Amazon’s Kuiper
Up to how many times more emissions-intensive are LEO megaconstellations compared to terrestrial mobile broadband?
6-8 times more (baseline); 12-14 times more (worst-case)
What could be a consequence of pricing emissions at the point of service delivery?
Higher costs for subscribers, possibly reducing service availability.
Which system has a shorter satellite lifespan: LEO or GEO?
LEO
What international agreement recognizes CO2 emissions as an environmental issue?
The Paris Agreement
How many total satellites are projected to be proposed over the next decade?
Range of 10,000
320,000 satellites
Which type of rocket fuel is associated with higher emissions: hydrocarbon (HYC) or hydrogen (HYD)?
Hydrocarbon (HYC)
Name one way policymakers can offset the incentive for polluting launchers to move to less regulated countries.
Implement border carbon adjustment policies
What is one reason LEO requires more satellites than GEO for global coverage?
LEO satellites cover smaller areas due to their lower orbit
What is the main reason for high uncertainty in environmental modeling of launches?
Limited data and complex atmospheric effects of rocket emissions