Scientists told The Independent that Elon Musk K’s Starlink satellites are creating a major problem in Earth’s orbit and experts in observing distant planets and stars. Astronomy The potential is being destroyed.
The European Low-Frequency Array Radio Telescope Network, or LOFAR, has since 2012 surveyed low-luminosity and distant objects throughout the universe to aid in the discovery of black holes and the search for exoplanets.
But in the five years since Musk’s private company SpaceX began launching its Starlink satellites, an increase in radio wave emissions has made it very difficult for Lofar to make observations.
“By tracking these signals we were able to reach the first Starlink satellites that were orbiting above Earth,” Jessica Dempsey, scientific and general director of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, told The Independent on Thursday.
SpaceX currently has more than 6,000 satellites in orbit, providing high-speed Internet to almost any location on Earth.
Starlink satellites are involuntarily emitting electromagnetic radiation, which Lofar astronomers believe is from faulty batteries.
Dempsey said he spoke with SpaceX last year about the deceleration technique and felt optimistic that the issue was being resolved.
Dempsey said he discussed troubleshooting techniques with SpaceX last year and was assured the problem was being resolved.
But when astronomers went to observe in July, they found that SpaceX’s new Starlink V2 minisatellites were causing even more disruption. Since then, SpaceX has launched more satellites.
“Starlink was emitting 30 times more and now not all (satellites) are emitting,” Dempsey said. To be honest, we were surprised.
‘The light in this particular frequency band of these new satellites, which we are examining, is about a million times brighter.
‘An example of this is that you are trying to see a beautiful, dim star visible to your eyes on a dark night and then a full moon rises close to it.’
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
Dempsey said the worst part is that the problem is only getting worse.
“They are launching 40 such ‘full moons’ every week,” he said. There are currently about 6,000 Starlink satellites, but 100,000 are planned for the future.
‘So think, there will be a hundred thousand full moons. Then we can really say goodbye to any kind of astrology done from Earth.’
Dempsey and his colleagues recently published findings in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics that show that almost all of Starlink’s satellites were emitting electromagnetic radiation that could have interfered with observations.
He said the astronomy group’s goal is not to get companies to scrap satellites, but to work within the rules so they can continue their scientific observations.
“The United Nations has regulations on safe bands of frequencies,” he said. And, these safe bands exist so that astronomy can do its job.
“But the question now is whether these restrictions are being obeyed by those who have the capacity to implement these rules and regulations.”
#Elon #Musks #satellite #causing #major #problems #Earth #orbit #experts
2024-09-22 08:16:09
