Study Cautions SpaceX Starlink Interfering In Space Imagery

Space scientists have been raising concerns over the deployment of so many satellites, specially Starlink. In 2019, Starlink came under heavy criticism after astronomers claimed that the newly deployed internet satellites would interfere with astronomical observations. A new study published in Nature argued that satellites are severely affecting the observations of the Hubble telescope.

More Satellites More Interference

Scientists are worried about deploying thousands of satellites to space, considering them a hurdle in space observations. SpaceX’s first Starlink satellites were launched in 2019 and have since increased to 3,700 satellites today. As space is populated with more and more satellites, they are constantly interfering with the observations of telescopes observing and taking images of outer space. The Study found that satellite exposure has increased from 2.8% to 4.3% in the last 20 years.

Starlink Is Not The Problem

On the other hand,  Jared Isaacman, founder of the Polaris Program tweeted that “Starlink is not the problem”. The problem is, he said, the decaying nature of the Hubble telescope whose “orbit is decaying”. SpaceX has not responded to the findings of the study but has previously said that it is working to reduce the interference. 

Give us 1 week in your inbox & we will make you smarter.

Only "News" Email That You Need To Subscribe To

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...