Elon Musk, SpaceX Unveil Latest Starlink Plans, Creating An Astronomical Emergency
Despite warnings and protestations from astronomers and skywatchers, Starlink is moving fast and breaking things.
In May of this year, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched the first group of its new satellite network: Starlink. Designed to provide 5G services worldwide, this first launch saw a constellation of 60 satellites, all in a trail, deploy across the night sky. Astronomers, who have been warning about the threat that networks like this could pose to their field for decades, were right to be worried.
Despite the best recommendations of astronomers on how to mitigate their impact, Starlink has plowed ahead unabated with their business plans, launching another network of 60 bright, large, reflective and radio-interfering satellites in November, ruining numerous professional observations.
Newly announced plans will accelerate the launch timetable, adding 60 new satellites every 2 weeks starting in late December. They will put over 1,500 new satellites into orbit by 2020’s end. Unless somebody stops them, this will radically transform the skies of planet Earth.
