at shorter wavelengths, so the SPS background will be more serious at shorter wavelengths (such as the blue and ultraviolet) where most optical data traditionally are obtained. In conclusion, faint object optical astronomy involves the measurement of weak signals against a comparatively bright, night sky background. It is clear that any additional sources of background light are undesirable and that large structures in space, therefore, can seriously compromise our ability to make optical astronomical observations from the Earth. The SPS sits on the limit of acceptability, and its impact will depend on the details of the design. A 60-satellite system with brightness mv = -4.3 per station would eliminate astronomical 'dark' time (no moon present), which is currently when most faint object astronomy is done. Great care will be required to ensure that we do not lose our observational access to the universe, which would seriously limit the growth of our knowledge of fundamental physical laws, on which technological advances ultimately are based.
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