Scientists Have Confirmed That SpaceX’s Starlink Satellites are Emitting Radiation
Wavelength bands that are meant to be conserved for radio astronomy are now being polluted by constellations of satellites populating Earth’s orbital heavens.
New study suggests that the Starlink satellites from SpaceX are “leaking” low-frequency radio signals that are not part of their designated downlink bands. This might have an effect on astronomical observations.
According to engineer Federico Di Vruno of the SKA Observatory and the International Astronomical Union, “This study represents the latest effort to better understand the impact of satellite constellations on radio astronomy.”
Our data support the theory put forward in earlier Dark and Quiet Skies seminars that this radiation is detectable.
The impact satellites have on our understanding of space is a growing problem as Earth’s sky fill up. There are already 4,365 or so of SpaceX’s tiny internet satellites orbiting the Earth, and thousands more are planned.
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When designing a new, dimmer satellite, SpaceX did pay attention to concerns about visual light pollution. But astronomy conducted on Earth uses more than just visible wavelengths. Radio astronomy is the other, perhaps larger discipline, and this is where there may be a problem.
At least in Europe, the satellites employ radio frequencies between 10.7 and 12.7 gigahertz for communication downlink; this has already raised concerns among experts.
However, experts hypothesized that the satellites may be emitting unwanted radio signals outside of that area. Di Vruno and his associates wanted to look into this.
In Europe, they made use of the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR), a network made up of some 20,000 radio antennas dispersed across 52 sites. They were able to see 68 satellites in the Starlink constellation with this degree of sensitivity. They discovered electromagnetic leakage, as expected.
Astronomer Cees Bassa of ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, states that 47 out of the 68 satellites that were monitored produced radiation between 110 and 188 MHz that was picked up by LOFAR.
This frequency range contains a protected band that the International Telecommunications Union has given to radio astronomy between 150.05 and 153 MHz.
So far, the impact is really little. However, it won’t always be the case. It will get brighter when there are more satellites in orbit unintentionally sending out radio signals.
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However, a remedy is already under development. The researchers have gotten in touch with SpaceX, who is looking at ways to stop or lessen this accidental leaking. And even though there are currently hundreds of units in orbit, satellite constellation technology is still in its infancy.
As a result, satellite radio leakage is a problem that has been identified rather recently. The unforeseen gap in formal guidelines can be filled while authorities strive to alter future designs.
According to astronomer Michael Kramer of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the Astronomische Gesellschaft in Germany, “The present study highlights an example of the various channels of how technology development may have unanticipated side effects on astronomy.”
We are now expecting for widespread cooperation from the whole satellite business and authorities, with SpaceX serving as an example.
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