SpaceX operates the Starlink satellite internet system, which provides satellite internet access to more than 55 countries. Starlink’s main goal is to give high-speed internet access in isolated and rural locations, but are they doing more harm than good? Researchers claimed in a report published on July 5 in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics that satellite constellations circling around Earth’s orbit are evidently releasing radiation that has the potential to disrupt radio astronomy observations. According to the study, the electronics on SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are leaking low-frequency radio waves that are not part of their assigned downlink bands.
According to media reports, SKA Observatory and International Astronomical Union engineer Federico Di Vruno stated, “This study represents the latest effort to better understand satellite constellations’ impact on radio astronomy.” Di Vruno also added, “Previous workshops on Dark and Quiet Skies theorized about this radiation, our observations confirm it is measurable.” SpaceX presently has an estimated 4,365 tiny internet satellites in orbit, with thousands more on the way. Elon Musk’s business has now authorized 84 administrations worldwide and has 1.5 million active consumers of its low-latency broadband services. Not only SpaceX, but OneWeb has over 600 satellites, and Amazon aims to launch its first set of satellites in 2024, making the issue much more alarming.
LOFAR telescope detected unintended radio waves from SpaceX’s satellites
However, scientists suspected that the satellites were emitting unintentional radio waves outside of that region. Di Vruno and his colleagues set out to look at this. The Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope was utilized by scientists to observe the unintentional electromagnetic radiation from SpaceX’s satellites. “With LOFAR, we detected radiation between 110 and 188 MHz from 47 of the 68 satellites that were observed,” Cees Bassa, an astronomer at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) and a co-author of the latest research, said in a statement. “This frequency range includes a protected band between 150.05 and 153 MHz specifically allocated to radio astronomy by the International Telecommunications Union,” Bassa added.
According to the researchers, the radiation appears to be unintended, emanating from the satellites’ circuitry and not breaking any rules. The International Electrotechnical Commission’s guidelines for electrical devices to control electromagnetic interference are not applicable in space. The researchers have also contacted SpaceX, which said that it is working on mitigation efforts to reduce or remove the unintentional leakage.
