SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are seen as an “existential threat” to astronomers

SpaceX’s ever-growing network of satellites continues to block researchers’ ability to see distant galaxies, planets and stars, experts say.

The Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), along with researchers from other institutions, said on Wednesday that radiation from SpaceX’s second-generation Starlink satellites is causing significant interference with their radio telescopes. The satellites emit 32 times more radiation than the previous generation of Starlink already had was in the way.

SpaceX has launched its satellites into space since 2019 and eventually aims to have as many as possible 42,000 in its “mega constellation,” according to CEO Elon Musk. More than 7,000 Starlink satellites have been launched into orbit, although only 6,400 are still in orbit, according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowellwhich tracks satellites on its website. Starlink’s main rival, OneWebit has only 630 satellites in orbit.

Starlink satellites are used to provide high-speed Internet services in over 100 countries. They have also provided services to airlines and cruise operators including United Airlines and Carnival Corp.

Scientists have been able to observe distant planets, galaxies and stars thanks to the light they emit on the electromagnetic spectrum. But the Starlink satellites emit light about 10 million times brighter than that from the faintest light sources they have identified, making it difficult to spot some objects.

Cees Bassa, lead author of the report, said the BBC that it was like comparing “the faintest stars visible to the naked eye and the brightness of the full Moon,” and said the problem will only get worse as SpaceX launches continue. Professor Jessica Dempsey, who runs ASTRON, told the BBC that if SpaceX failed to mitigate the problem, satellites would “become an existential threat to the kinds of astronomy we do”.

Although SpaceX has been criticized in the past for the radiation emitted by its satellites, the company has managed to lessen their irritation by listening to and working with detractors.

SpaceX tried a few things, like painting his satellites black and using sunshades to block sunlight — both of which were eventually scrapped — as well as some operational changes, according to Business Insider. In January 2023, SpaceX reached an agreement with the National Science Foundation to mitigate the effects of the second-generation Starlink satellites that are at the root of ASTRON’s problems.