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Satellites

Asked by James NaishLabourDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled Answered 4 September 2026UIN 22251

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential environmental and astronomical effects of orbital reflector satellites.

Answered by Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

The UK, to date, has commissioned three studies related to the impacts of satellite brightness and potential mitigations. The findings from these studies, alongside discussions in international forums such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), help inform policy discussions on how to successfully address the balance between accessing vital services in space and minimising the impact on scientific research and the environment.

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