EAGER: Impact of LEO Satellite Constellations on Optical Astronomy: Measurement, Simulation, Mitigation, and Forecast

空间的指数式工业化，以数万颗相当大的低地球轨道通信卫星的形式出现，与正常的科学研究项目相比，其时间表很短。 按照目前的配置，低地球轨道卫星将对地面光学天文学产生重大的有害影响。 这项研究将评估低地球轨道卫星的科学影响，并探讨不同减缓战略的有效性。 迫切需要进行有根据的研究，以现实地评估影响，并进行探索性调查，从各种拟议的不同缓解战略中选择一种或几种最佳战略。 自从Vera C.鲁宾天文台（VRO）受到的影响最大，对所有其他使用VRO数据的天文学产生多米诺骨牌效应，该项目将侧重于评估、实验室测量、模拟和缓解，具体针对VRO及其最初的使命，即空间和时间遗产调查（LSST）。 自然夜空是每个人的共同遗产，而不仅仅是专业天文学家，它受到数以万计明亮移动的低地球轨道卫星的威胁。 寻找减少其影响的方法会影响现代社会所有人的生活质量。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The exponential industrialization of space, in the form of tens of thousands of rather large Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communications satellites (LEOsats), has a timescale short compared with normal scientific research projects. As they are presently configured, LEOsats will have a major deleterious impact on ground based optical astronomy. This study will assess the science impact of LEOsats, and explore the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. There is an urgent need for informed studies that assess the impact realistically, as well as exploratory investigations to choose one, or a few, of the best of various proposed different mitigation strategies. Since the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (VRO) is most impacted, with a domino effect on all other astronomy which would use VRO data, this project will focus on assessment, laboratory measurements, simulation, and mitigation, specific to the VRO and its initial mission, the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The natural night sky is the universal heritage of everyone, not just professional astronomers, and it is threatened by tens of thousands of bright moving LEOsats. Finding ways to reduce their impact affects the quality of life of pretty well all of modern society.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.