Fri Sep 20 08:39:00 UTC 2024: ## Starlink’s Expansion Threatens Astronomy: Radio Noise From Satellites Blinding Telescopes
**Amsterdam, Netherlands** – Astronomers are sounding the alarm as a new study reveals that second-generation Starlink satellites, which make up a third of SpaceX’s network, are emitting significantly more radio noise than their predecessors, hindering critical astronomical research. This unintended electromagnetic radiation (UEMR) is “blinding” radio telescopes, saturating their instruments and creating light smears on images, compromising valuable observation data.
The study, led by the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), found that Starlink V2 satellites emit UEMR 32 times brighter than V1 satellites. This follows previous concerns raised in 2022 when V1 satellites were first detected emitting radio noise that interfered with astronomical observations.
While Starlink has made some efforts to reduce emissions from its V1 fleet, the increased brightness of the V2 satellites is a worrying development. The problem is exacerbated by the rapid growth of satellite constellations, with the number of satellites in orbit expected to reach 100,000 by 2030.
“My colleagues told me that they are really frightened of the future,” said Benjamin Winkel, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. “There should be some improvements if they really want to observe in a good manner.”
This issue extends beyond Starlink, with other companies like OneWeb and Amazon’s Kuiper project also contributing to the growing problem. The lack of regulation for satellite operators in space presents a significant challenge, relying on good faith cooperation between companies and the research community.
While Starlink has offered a “telescope boresight avoidance” method to steer radio emissions away from telescopes, the study’s findings highlight the need for stricter regulations and ongoing efforts to minimize radio noise emissions from satellites.
“There is no way to make any electrical or electronic apparatus without this kind of leakage,” said Winkel. “The question always asked is: how much is leaked? Consumer devices… fall under some kind of regulation for this leakage… But for satellites that is not the case, so this is really a grey zone.”
The astronomical community urges satellite operators to take responsibility for their emissions and collaborate to ensure the future of space research is not compromised by the quest for global broadband access.
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