Astronomers sounded the alarm over the increasing threat posed by Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites to ground-based observations. Scientists said Starlink satellites emit radio waves up to 32 times stronger than previous versions, severely impacting astronomical research and astronomers’ ability to observe the stars.
Radio astronomers are particularly concerned because Starlink’s interference obstructs their ability to peer into the universe and conduct vital research on celestial objects and phenomena.
Currently, approximately 6,400 Starlink satellites orbit Earth, making SpaceX the largest provider of satellite-based internet services. The company predicted that it could have 100,000 satellites in orbit by 2030.
Researchers report that the radiation from Starlink satellites is 10 million times brighter than the faintest cosmic signals detectable by radio telescopes.
With SpaceX launching approximately 40 new satellites each week, scientists warned that the problem is rapidly escalating.
