Scientists, looking deep into space, have long voiced their concerns that satellites are encroaching on their ability to study the cosmos.

  • smokeythebear@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Okay but you’re falling into Elon’s trap. You can’t weigh future potential against current harm naively. Particularly when it comes from somebody with a long history of over promising and under delivering. Since we pay the full price up front (loss of science, etc) but will never reap the full benefits promised.

    • ThoughtGoblin@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      For instance: it could help remote villages or third world countries. But Starlink costs a pretty penny in western money those places lack. Otherwise they would already have traditional infrastructure.

    • mob@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I agree that we can’t trust Elon… but hasn’t Starlink already helped Ukrainians? I remember he messed it up for a bit, but if we took Elon out of the picture but kept Starlink, the debate gets more interesting.

      If you are like the guy you are responding to and prioritize people over astrology(which I’m not sure I do tbh), I don’t think they are being naive weighing future potential vs current harm. Easy internet access anywhere in the world vs deep space study from Earth isn’t black and white.

      Personally, I’d choose space, but I can imagine a lot of people would choose the more humanitarian approach.