Elon Musk's Starlink satellites leaking, could blind telescopes on Earth

The situation is rapidly deteriorating as SpaceX launches approximately 40 new satellites weekly.

In Short

• The second-generation Starlink satellites are emitting radio waves
• The brightness of these emissions affect observations
• There is urgent need for stricter regulations on satellite's unintended radiation

A new study has revealed that Elon Musk's Starlink satellites are emitting unintended radio waves that are significantly interfering with astronomical observations, potentially blocking scientists' view of the universe.

The research, conducted by ASTRON (the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy), found that the second-generation Starlink satellites are emitting radio waves up to 32 times stronger than their predecessors, across a broader range of frequencies.

Lead author Cees Bassa stated, "Compared to the faintest astrophysical sources that we observe with LOFAR, UEMR from Starlink satellites is 10 million times brighter. This difference is similar to the faintest stars visible to the naked eye and the brightness of the full Moon."

The situation is rapidly deteriorating as SpaceX launches approximately 40 new satellites weekly.

The unintended emissions from these satellites potentially exceed internationally regulated thresholds for interference, raising concerns about the future of radio astronomy.

The brightness of these emissions is comparable to the difference between viewing the faintest visible stars and the full moon, making it increasingly difficult for astronomers to observe distant celestial objects.

This research points to the urgent need for stricter regulations on satellite unintended radiation to preserve the integrity of radio astronomical observations. As Federico Di Vruno from the SKA Observatory noted, "Humanity is clearly approaching an inflexion point where we need to take action to preserve our sky as a window to explore the Universe from Earth."

The problem is not new and astronomers have been raising concerns over the increasing congestion in low Earth orbit with several companies launching satellite constellations. Apart from SpaceX, UK's OneWeb is also launching these constellations. Meanwhile, the Kuiper Belt satellite constellation is to be launched by Amazon.

The astronomical community is calling for collaboration between satellite companies, regulatory agencies, and scientists to develop effective mitigation strategies.

Prof. Jessica Dempsey, general and scientific director of ASTRON, emphasised the importance of such cooperation, stating, "We have the solutions for this symbiosis in space as well – we just need the regulators to support us, and the industry to meet us half-way."

Without immediate action, there are fears that the proliferation of satellites could severely impact our ability to study the cosmos. As Dempsey warned, "Without mitigations, very soon the only constellations we will see will be human-made."