Dark and Quiet Skies Act of 2025
Summary
The Dark and Quiet Skies Act of 2025 aims to establish a Center of Excellence dedicated to mitigating interference with federally funded scientific research observing the sky and celestial bodies. This center will foster collaboration between federal agencies and the private sector to develop and deploy voluntary mitigation techniques. The Act authorizes $20 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support the center's activities.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely lead to the development and implementation of best practices to reduce optical and radio interference from satellites. This will improve the quality of astronomical observations and protect scientific research. The center will also serve as a hub for research and development in interference mitigation technologies.
Potential Benefits
- Improved quality of federally funded astronomical research.
- Increased collaboration between federal agencies and the private sector.
- Development of new technologies to mitigate interference from satellites.
- Establishment of voluntary guidelines and best practices for satellite operators.
- Enhanced protection of scientific activities observing the sky and celestial bodies.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- The effectiveness of the Act depends on voluntary participation from the private sector.
- The authorized funding may be insufficient to fully achieve the Act's objectives.
- The establishment of the center may duplicate existing efforts in other agencies.
- The Act may impose additional regulatory burdens on satellite operators.
- Potential for conflicts between scientific research and commercial space activities.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution, as it promotes scientific research and technological advancement. Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 grants Congress the power to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts. The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).