The deployment of communication antennas for the communication satellite BlueWalker 3, which is scheduled to be used by large operators such as AT&T, was completed on November 14, 2022. However, it turned out that Blue Walker 3 had a problem that it was too bright, which affected astronomical observations. Moreover, it is pointed out that the radio waves emitted by Blue Walker 3 may interfere with the radio telescope observation radio waves.
Blue Walker 3 is an artificial satellite developed as a prototype of BlueBirds, a large-scale communication network using 168 satellites planned by AST SpaceMobile. Large operators plan to use the AST SpaceMobile network in the future. In this Blue Walker 3, 64m to realize ground communication2Although it is equipped with a huge reflective antenna that reaches up to 1,000, the light reflected by the antenna is too bright, which affects the observation of terrestrial objects.
Currently, several companies such as SpaceX and Starlink are developing satellite Internet services, and numerous communication satellites are already deployed in outer space. However, according to astronomers, Blue Walker 3 is brighter than the Starlink satellites and appears as a bright speckle in astronomical telescope observations. It emphasizes the risk of obstructing astronomical observations, pointing out that it may make it difficult to detect astronomical objects, including those that pose a danger to the Earth.
There are several artifacts brighter than Blue Walker 3 in outer space. For example, the International Space Station shines 40 times brighter than Blue Walker 3. Nevertheless, because the current location of the International Space Station is public, astronomers can implement countermeasures, such as changing the direction of the telescope. On the other hand, AST Space Mobile does not respond to astronomers’ requests to share Blue Walker 3 location information.
AST Space Mobile said that it is working with experts to develop technologies, including next-generation anti-reflective materials, saying that it is trying to use the latest technologies and strategies to reduce the impact on astronomy. It appealed to the attitude of reducing the influence of astronomical observations. He also added that Starlink is planning to launch tens of thousands of satellites, but its satellites will not interfere with astronomy.
The problem with Blue Walker 3 isn’t just optical. Unlike other Internet services, Blue Walker 3 aims to provide communication services in 4G and 5G. For this reason, Blue Walker 3 needs to use radio waves in a wider band than other communication satellites, and it is pointed out that the radio waves used may interfere with radio telescope observation radio waves.
On Earth, the use of radio waves for use as radio telescopes is strictly limited. However, homogeneous regulation does not apply in outer space. It is pointed out that the current regulation was enacted in the 1960s, long before private companies entered space, and that the current system does not adequately respond to rapidly developing technology. US government authorities are directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review the rules on satellites on November 2, 2022, and the next day, the FCC is establishing a space agency. With the establishment of the space agency, it is expected that rules suitable for future technological situations will be enacted. Related information this placecan be found in