Low Orbit Satellite Systems Like Starlink Continue To Harm Scientific Research
from the first-do-no-harm dept
Scientists say that low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations like Starlink continue to pose a dire threat to astronomy and scientific research, and that too little is being done to address the issue.
Last fall, scientists declared satellite constellations an “existential threat for astronomy.” In short, the reflection and light pollution (Musk claimed would never happen in the first place) is making it far more difficult to study the night sky, a problem researchers say can be mitigated somewhat but never fully eliminated. Musk’s promises of a fix have, like many of his products, been a no show.
German researchers recently studied LEO satellites’ impact specifically on the Hubble telescope and the results weren’t great:
The research, led by Sandor Kruk from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany, found that 3.7% of Hubble images taken from 2009 to 2020 were tarnished by satellite streaks. By 2021, this number had risen to 5.9%. There were 1,562 Starlink and 320 OneWeb satellites in orbit at the time, “increasing the population of satellites close to the orbit” of Hubble, the scientists write.
Things have gotten worse since this data. And of course there are numerous other companies, including Amazon, that are preparing to launch tens of thousands of additional LEO satellites in the next few years.
It’s worth noting that the newer Webb Space Telescope isn’t impacted, given it’s 932,000 miles away. But numerous ground based observatories have reported the same problems Hubble is experiencing, forcing them to implement costly and impractical countermeasures they say can’t scale with the growth of LEO deployments.
Space X and Starlink SpaceX recently entered into a voluntary coordination agreement with the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to try and mitigate some of the worst effects its Starlink satellite network is having on ground-based astronomy observations. The issue was forced by the Biden FCC, which wouldn’t give approval for Starlink’s 30,000 satellite launches until such a deal was struck.
Musk being Musk, and the FCC being, well, the FCC, there’s no guarantee that the effort ever amounts to much, that SpaceX and Starlink adheres to any requirements that come from the deal, or that the FCC will hold anybody accountable should Space X, Starlink, Amazon, or other politically influential companies fail to address concerns.
Filed Under: astronomy, broadband, Hubble telescope, leo, low earth orbit satellites, science, scientific research, starlink, webb telescope
Companies: spacex, starlink
Comments on “Low Orbit Satellite Systems Like Starlink Continue To Harm Scientific Research”
Facts? who cares
“In June 2016, NASA extended the service contract for Hubble until June 2021.” “In November 2021, NASA extended the service contract for Hubble until June 2026” “In September 2022, NASA and SpaceX signed a Space Act Agreement to investigate the possibility of launching a Crew Dragon mission to service and boost Hubble to a higher orbit, possibly extending its lifespan by another 20 years.” Wiki
Hubble’s father (Lockheed) and mother (PerkinElmer) built spy satellites, NINE were launched with the Hubble mirror (15cm circle-of-confusion possible in Earth observation) in the 15 years BEFORE we got our first “Space Telescope”. Perhaps the “accidental” myopic figure of the Hubble primary was the design. Lew Allen Jr, four star General; Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director NSA, Chief of Staff Air Force Systems Command Los Angeles Air Force Station, Deputy Director CIA, participated in “Starfish Prime”: the US nuclear burst 200 miles into space that punched out all the TV satellites, became the Director of JPL in 1982: He was the first signature on Perk&Elmer’s “fine” of $15 million! Hubble must have been useful for looking down everyone’s blouse…. before the Ball-MasonJar-Aerospace’s $billion+ “repair”.
I’d love to see the spreadsheet of all the NSA observation slots before December 1993. “the telescope focal ratio (f/24) is not preserved by the corrector system” See https://www.montana.edu/jshaw/documents/17c%20Hubble_correctors_AO1993.pdf
Disclaimer: I have a 54 inch precision world globe hanging in the front porch here, Lockheed surplus. Under the paint are pencil marks of all the political “hot spots” the SR-71 was tracking… Except America is scraped down to the fiberglass. Biden just ask $866,000,000,000 for support of American’s mined petroleum industry around the world, the Hubble is up against a global oil/gas exploration & production market of $Five Trillion in just 2022…… The people who giveashit about the future of Hubble are down beyond the food chain
how does one ethically decide which human orbital technologies should have priority over others ?
Re: how does one ethically decide......
These are called Belief Systems.
We carry more B.S. around like luggage, collecting B.S. until, from their burden alone, we collapse and god calls us home.
Well, if we’re lucky, they’ll become like Twitter profits…invisible.
How to satellites below Hubble orbit interfere with it?
While there may be occlusion to Hubble from satellites, that isn’t clearly related to those lower than its orbit.
The data cited don’t really explain how that would come to pass, and it’s rather central to the thesis.
Nor is there any discussion of how streaks damage the scientific value of the collected images. To what extent do streaks invalidate everything?
It’s certainly fair to be concerned about ground-based observation, but I’m not finding the case very clearly made.
Re: Amenable to signal processing
Also, given the predictability of a track, it’s plausible to discard certain pixels at the predicted positions during transit while recording. The satellites aren’t going to be in the field of view for the length of the long exposure.
Yes, this would result in more complicated software for astronomical cameras.
Re: Re:
For one, try doing a blink comparison when you have lines in different places in most of your images of the same area of sky; whether manually, or with software.
Re: Re: Re: Sir, this is a Wendy's
blink comparison must have been used in WWII, but was replaced 60 years ago.
Re: Next Armageddon movie
The plot of the next Armageddon movie will only be 15 minutes.
The basic plot is the same as the original, but unfortunately rather than having enough time to identify and try to deflect the asteroid, we will be presented with a no-win situation where we only have 15 hours to watch the asteroid destroy the earth.
Scientists will posit that ‘someone’ should have taken into account all the low orbit satellite interference and done something to help protect the future of the planet, but what can you do… Profits over security amirite?
End scene
Scientists versus corporations: Who's right? Who will prevail?
Don’t be silly — those were purely rhetorical questions.
Wow
Aaah, yes, eggheads unable to gaze at pretty lights in the sky quite as unhindered as before, or people getting access to internet/broadband in places it couldn’t reach before – WHAT DO?!? Decisions, decisions…
Re:
Ah yes, eggheads unable to do important research like tracking objects whizzing through the the void towards us and collect data that will be of vital importance to humanity’s safety both on earth and off when we finally head into space. It’s more important that Elon gets to be first to sell premium internet access to rich travellers, yacht owners and people who live in isolated multimillion dollar ranches than any of that, oh, I mean ‘provide internet to the under served in the developing world’ at a price that is unrealistic for the people who actually live there.
Re: Re: Actually, it is very useful to ocean going yachts and ranches
The current state of internet for vessels.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/@eSysmanSuperYachts/about
Video: https://youtu.be/mDjGyqvU5hI
There is no reason developing world would reject using it. Most have mobile connection i hear.
Re: Re: Re:
OUCH
The SuperYacht Data Revolution is Here! – Starlink https://youtu.be/sUWCWpxMSJA via @YouTube
Re: What, Me Nuance?
Can only posit solutions in either/or dichotomy that only exists on paper and not in real world, who posting less than stellar thoughtses?
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Elmo can be trusted
to lie. That is the only thing that is guaranteed from Elmo, the Muck Up.
You really think someone would do that? Just go to the FCC and tell lies?
SpaceX did launch the only NASA test so far
“Sep 26, 2022 — The mission’s one-way trip confirmed NASA can successfully navigate a spacecraft to intentionally collide with an asteroid to deflect it” It Did.
and
“Mar 10, 2023 — The asteroid, known as 2023 DW—which has a 50-meter (164 foot) diameter — was detected by the European Space Agency on February 26, 2023. It has a one in 625 chance of slamming into Earth on Feb. 14, 2046”