[godelski]

> if unmitigated it does mean that there will be fewer discoveries per taxpayer dollar sent to the NSF/NASA

Fewer discoveries _by ground based telescopes_.

I want to make this distinction because more access to space also decreases the price of space based telescopes. A swarm half the size facing outwards would also be an incredible tool.

(I do want to note to everyone that ground based telescopes will still likely be significantly cheaper for quite some time. But still decreasing the cost of space based telescopes is a huge advantage)

[kalium-xyz]

As far as I know, A lot of people will never have access to an analog space based telescope that they can look though with their own eyes. There will be a lot of people who wont like that.

[godelski]

These swarms aren't going to affect the average amateur astronomer very much. You'll still be able to look through a telescope no problem. These satellites are pretty small.

But, I should mention that Blue, SpaceX, Bigelow, and Virgin are trying to create access for space. Bigelow has an expandable module[0] with the explicit purpose of building larger space stations. Bigelow is specifically trying to create a private space station[1]. All these companies are also looking at lunar habitats. So yeah, there might be a period where people are not able to look through space based telescopes with their own _physical_ eye, but we shouldn't expect that period to last that long. If you are explicitly trying to colonize space, well you have to make it cheap enough for people to... go... Yes, it'll be super expensive at first, but that's true for almost every new technology (with typically ~20 years to reduce that price).

[0] https://www.nasa.gov/content/bigelow-expandable-activity-mod...

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigelow_Commercial_Space_Stati...

[kbart]

"These swarms aren't going to affect the average amateur astronomer very much."

Not true. Most of amateur astronomers are also astrophotographers that is affected by Starlink's light pollution. Just look up any astrophotography group, I see posts of ruined shots by satellites every day.

[cameronsr]

Right now Bigelow Aerospace isn't doing anything. They were forced to suspend operations in March 2020, when the State of Nevada determined they weren't an essential business.

Article: https://spacenews.com/bigelow-aerospace-lays-off-entire-work...

There's currently no news when or if BA will resume operations. Even if they do, chances are most of their original talent has made other arrangements by now. From a staffing point of view, they'll be starting from scratch.