Elon Musk satellites disrupting space exploration are posing a serious challenge to scientists’ ability to explore the universe, according to researchers in the Netherlands.
The new generations of Starlink satellites, which provide fast internet across the globe, are increasingly interfering with radio telescopes, disrupting astronomical research. Researchers say these satellites are blocking crucial radio waves, blinding telescopes, and hindering our ability to study space. The Elon Musk satellites disrupting space exploration are particularly problematic due to their unintended electromagnetic emissions, which far exceed the interference caused by earlier versions.
The Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (Astron) has expressed concerns, stating that the thousands of orbiting satellites are compromising their observations. Starlink, owned by SpaceX, has not responded to these claims as reported by BBC News. These Elon Musk satellites disrupting space exploration have been linked to significant disruptions in radio telescopes across the globe, from remote areas in Ukraine and Yemen to the UK, where they are used to provide fast internet.
In 2022, Starlink’s internet speed tests showed that it could deliver four times faster internet than the average, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport in the UK. However, astronomers believe this speed comes at a great cost to space exploration. Professor Jessica Dempsey, director of Astron told that each new satellite launch diminishes their ability to observe the sky. These emissions interfere with the ability to study black hole jets, distant galaxies, and exoplanets.
Astron’s study found that the interference from the second generation of Starlink satellites, or V2 satellites, was 32 times stronger than the earlier versions. The radiation emitted from these satellites exceeds regulations set by the International Telecommunications Union, raising further concerns.
Currently, an estimated 6,402 Starlink satellites are orbiting at 342 miles (550km) above Earth, making SpaceX the largest satellite provider by far. These satellites are notably large, featuring 3-meter flat panels and an 8-meter solar array for power. SpaceX’s closest competitor, OneWeb, has fewer than 1,000 satellites in orbit, while companies like Amazon are also developing their own networks, aiming to launch over 3,000 satellites in the coming years. By 2030, the number of satellites in orbit could exceed 100,000, which will likely exacerbate the issue.
The research conducted by Astron utilized the LOFAR radio telescope in the Netherlands, which observed the V2 Starlink satellites over a single day in July. Radio telescopes are crucial for picking up electromagnetic waves emitted by celestial objects like distant galaxies and planets. However, the signals are being increasingly disturbed by satellite interference.
The scientists found unintended electromagnetic radiation from almost all the V2 Starlink satellites observed. This radiation was about 10 million times brighter than the weakest sources of light identified by radio telescopes, significantly impeding research efforts.
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Lead author Cees Bassa compared this interference to the difference between the faintest stars visible to the naked eye and the brightness of the full Moon. With SpaceX launching about 40 second-generation Starlink satellites every week, the problem is rapidly worsening.
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Robert Massey, Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, warned that the brightness and interference caused by these satellites pose a major threat to radio observatories. He stressed the urgency of addressing the issue before it further compromises astronomical research.
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