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FWIW, SpaceX has been actively working to make the Starlink satellites darker --- painting them black, adding a sun visor, working with the International Astronomical Union, etc --- so it is a bit disingenuous to suggest that they are "pushing the envelope" in the other direction.

Naturally, I do wish that they were even darker and less obtrusive but oh well.

[1] https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starlink-internet-sat...

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Correction: they tried colouring satellites darker, but that caused heat radiation difficulties, so they've gone back to reflective satellites. Doesn't sound like they tried very hard. Plus the satellites have gotten larger (= still more reflectivity.)

The new satellites are 18% as reflective as the original ones despite being bigger.

Really? According to whom? I've been reading comments from astronomers that would indicate differently.

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