Space

This seems like a difficult topic.

Disclosure: I been using Starlink since Dec 2020.

I tend to look a bit forward in time, often too soon. Thinking about the future I have to ask the question, "will earth continue to build space structures, constellations, or even ring structures (I know, far far future)?" I figure in time those developments will happen at some level or another. The next question I wonder about is "when", if humanity builds out into space should we do it now or later?

These developments will surely be a problem for viewing the stars from Earth. More space based telescopes could eventually replace the more professional work but views from Earth itself are likely to always be impacted by space development. It could be that Starship, the craft that will put even more Starlink satellites in orbit, may also open up many more opportunities for space based scopes at much lower costs and/or sizes than previously possible.

My guess is long term development in space will create more space based viewing platforms and there will be increased accessibility to those platforms, but all this space development will impact Earth based observations at least short term. Longer term it is a bit more murky what might happen with Earth based observation. It could be that the sky becomes so busy that astronomy as we know it will be forced to change (it may have already by then) or the technology will change to where constellation systems may no longer be needed or more effort may go into reducing their impact.

No doubt I like to look out at the stars in wonder but another part of me wants to see humanity act on that wonder, step out and explore what is out there. The stages between viewing with wonder and exploring is likely to pretty messy, at least looking at how humanity has approached most things.