Radio waves from the satellites are 'blinding' radio telescopes and hurting research, say scientists.
Radio waves from Elon Musk’s growing network of satellites are blocking scientists’ ability to peer into the universe, according to researchers in the Netherlands.
They are also used to connect remote areas of the UK to fast internet. In 2022 tests showed that Starlink could deliver internet speeds four times faster than the average, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport."Every time more of these are launched with these kinds of emission levels, we see less and less of the sky," Professor Jessica Dempsey, director of ASTRON, told BBC News.
Many objects in space, including distant galaxies and planets, emit light on the electromagnetic spectrum. Robert Massey, Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, said: "it's very clear that if you have something this bright that is compromising a major radio observatory this much, then we need to do something and we need to do it quickly."
Astronomers say they talked to SpaceX about radiation from the first generation of satellites and the company listened to their concerns."Turning LOFAR back up and seeing these booming signals from these new generation of V2 Mini SpaceX satellites was a bit shocking," says Prof Dempsey.
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