SpaceX's Bright Starlink Satellites Are Upsetting Astronomers

SpaceX's Starlink satellites -- recently launched from Cape Canaveral last week -- may obstruct the view of the universe, posing serious problems for astronomers. It's not much of a problem now as there are only 60 satellites at present, but eventually that number will reach 12,000, and a megaconstellation will encircle the Earth. CNET reports: The first batch of satellites were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and deployed to orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket on May 23. Each contains a single solar array, which both captures and bounces sunlight off the satellites and, as a result, can sometimes be seen from Earth. On May 25, as the drifting luminescent army of satellites zoomed overhead, Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek captured their marching, posting a stunning video to Vimeo. In time, the satellites will drift apart and head to specific orbits so that satellite internet coverage can be beamed to every corner of the globe.

Will we find ourselves in a position where it's impossible to investigate the cosmos from the ground? The quick answer: not forever, no. SpaceX designed the Starlink satellites to fall back to the Earth after about five years of service, burning up in the atmosphere on their way back in. But the long answer is: potentially. Astronomers already wrangle with the problems posed by space robots and satellites circling the Earth whenever they turn their ground-based telescopes toward the stars. Bright, reflective surfaces pose a problem because they obstruct our view of the universe. More satellites equals cloudier vision, and Starlink plans to launch more satellites than ever. Elon Musk jumped to the defense of his satellite system, tweeting how 'potentially helping billions of economically disadvantaged people is the greater good,' while making it clear that SpaceX plans to limit Starlink's effects on astronomy. 'We care a great deal about science,' Musk tweeted. He said he's sent a note to the Starlink team to reduce the amount of light the satellites reflect.

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