Written question asked by James Naish (Labour) on Friday, 28 August 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by Chris McDonald (Labour) on Friday, 4 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Satellites

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.

Answer: 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.

Secondary information