To earlier generations, the term constellations might have meant zodiacal dot-to-dots depicting ancient gods or mythical creatures — but today the word more likely evokes hurtling GPS satellites and myriad spy craft buzzing the firmament. As above, so below now applies to the technological miasma of modern life. But what has been out of sight should no longer be out of mind, as agendas on the ground seem to merge with those in the stratosphere.

On terra firma we can observe concerted — even desperate — efforts by the World Economic Forum and affiliated NGOs and politicians to severely restrict energy, food and transportation, under the guise of "saving the planet". Now satellite systems are being touted as a means of reducing methane emissions and of tracking changes in the flora and fauna of remote regions amid a "boiling" planet. But does this rapidly evolving and terrifying agenda on the ground really apply to near orbit?

How many flickering objects are up there and who put them there? How do they really affect us beyond the convenience of sat navs or streaming TV subscriptions?

More than half of the 9,692 satellites orbiting Earth are used for communications. Other uses for the thousands of satellites in the sky include Earth and space observation (22.1 per cent), Earth and space science (0.44 per cent), technology development and demonstrations (0.77 per cent), as well as navigation and global positioning (3.6 per cent). SpaceX owns and operates the most satellites. The company's 4,534 vehicles make up nearly half of the total in orbit, with plans for about 42,000 more. Elon Musk, the owner, has a goal of delivering high-speed broadband internet access to most people in the world through his Starlink constellation. This makes him a suitable person for scrutiny when questions of surveillance and influence come to the fore amid the battle for hearts and minds over climate narratives and net zero targets set by outfits such as the World Economic Forum, United Nations and national governments — regardless of whether SpaceX sats are involved in environmental observation or not.