Today, on the 1A show I mentioned earlier, someone mused at the idea of stationing data centers in space. So, I was interested when I saw Communications Daily mention it today…

While space sustainability advocates are pressing the FCC to consider the possible environmental impacts of proposed orbital data center mega constellations, policy experts — including some of those sustainability advocates — said the agency isn’t likely to do so. However, congressional action or a court decision could have the same effect and are more viable options, they said.

The FCC didn’t comment. An agency NPRM adopted last August (see 2508070052) proposed that space-based operations be excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) because they’re “extraterritorial activities” whose effects are entirely outside U.S. jurisdiction.