The Space Review

Four environmental organizations filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency ignored the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, reopening debate over how the FCC weighs environmental consequences when licensing commercial space ventures.

A new article in The Space Review examines URSALA, RAQUEL and FARRAH, classified American satellites whose names and missions were long kept out of public view. The piece traces what is now known about these programmes, drawing on declassified material and open-source research. Space enthusiasts and intelligence historians are discussing the details online, noting how much of US reconnaissance history has only emerged decades after launch.

Construction has started on a project to convert an office complex in Henderson, Nevada, into a new dining and retail site. The redevelopment, reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, signals continued commercial repositioning in the Las Vegas area, where office space is being repurposed to meet demand for restaurants and shopping venues.

Human rights defenders from Seychelles are calling on the UN Human Rights Council, meeting in its 63rd session, to take steps to preserve their country's civic space. The appeal, raised through the International Service for Human Rights, highlights concerns that freedoms of expression, association and assembly in the Indian Ocean island nation need safeguarding as the Council reviews member states' records.

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to exclude space activities from reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. The decision means FCC licensing actions affecting satellites and other space operations will no longer require environmental assessments. Space policy observers are watching how the change could speed up satellite approvals, including for large constellations.

Ross Barkan argues in his Political Currents column that small literary magazines should devote more space to book reviews. He contends that little magazines once played a vital role in evaluating new literature and shaping literary culture, and that expanding their review coverage would strengthen public criticism and help readers navigate the flood of new titles.