The emergent sociotechnical order of megaconstellations in low-Earth orbit is driving unprecedented environmental risks for orbital integrity and changing humanity’s view of the cosmos. With a projected surge of over 500,000 new constellation satellites by 2030, the scientific astronomy community has mobilized a framework of international governance to protect ‘dark and quiet skies’. As a transnational epistemic community normalizing problem definitions and as scientific authority stabilizes desirable orbital futures, our research investigates the effectiveness and legitimacy of global dark sky governance in assessing how it counters the rise of satellite megaconstellations and which voices and interests are included. We contribute to insights on the processes by which technocratic and market-driven values dominate dark sky governance agendas, prioritizing short-term, utilitarian protections of scientific astronomy while marginalizing ecological, cultural and spiritual values that dark skies hold for societies across the globe.