‘Starwashing’: How space companies use the greenwashing playbook while engaging in environmentally damaging practices

Orbital data centers, space habitats, mining the Moon – despite taking place in space, the practices many companies are imagining will still affect the Earth.

By: Marissa E. Yingling, University of Louisville, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 12, 2026

Words: 1,484

Last Updated: 6 days, 6 hours ago

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By Marissa E. Yingling, University of Louisville

From launchpads to low Earth orbit and beyond, space companies and their affiliates are deploying a familiar marketing tactic – with a new twist. In a space economy projected to reach US$1.8 trillion by 2035, they sell space exploration narratives by appealing to a desire to expand humankind beyond Earth – while downplaying or omitting the negative repercussions for Earth and the space environment. Welcome to …

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