A Different Kind of Space Race

I still get excited when I see a satellite in the night sky. In our astronomy club newsletter, I publish what I think are the best International Space Station flyover times. It’s always a treat to see it and know that there are humans up there.

In recent years however there has been a rush to be the first and/or the biggest provider of worldwide broadband internet services. This is a different kind of space race, but no one in the astronomy field is very supportive.

You have to love the idea of everyone around the world having equal high-speed access to the internet. It is the infrastructure of our social milieu – the need communicate – NOW!

So, what’s the problem?

Light pollution! Yes, light pollution – from above. And that’s but one consequence of this space race. The concept is simple but execution is fraught with unintended consequences.

SpaceX started the race in May 2019 with its first launch of 60 Starlink satellites. Since then they have put into orbit over 2000, and plan on 30,000 Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). LEO is key, not only to the success of Starlink, but also to the impact the satellites have on astronomy. LEO is the ideal location for Hubble, the Space Station, and other vehicles for science study. LEO is an ideal location for transmitting internet signals directly to ground-based receivers. LEO also makes spotting satellites reflecting sunlight easier, and this is where the downside comes into play. These satellites are highly visible to sensitive instruments such as telescope cameras. They move through areas under study and interfere with data collection.

SpaceX is not alone.  Amazon has Project Kuiper with 3,236 projected satellites. OneWeb consortium plans to put up over 600 by the end of 2023. There are other private and government groups expressing interest so the field (and LEO) could get very crowded.

SpaceX has been working to mitigate light pollution by coating the satellites with low reflectivity paint, adjusting the solar arrays, and installing Sun visors to prevent reflected light from reaching Earth. There has been some improvement but the impact that 30,000+ satellites will have cannot be overstated. Barring a breakthrough, we can look forward to a lighter night sky – everywhere on Earth!

Beyond light pollution and science data collection issues, frequent launches contribute to air pollution. These satellites have a fairly short lifespan (5 years) and are then deorbited for burn up in the atmosphere, also producing air pollution. Any pieces making it through the lower atmosphere can end up causing damage or injury.

The impact of these satellites light pollution on wildlife is at this time unknown, but we will find out.

What’s in the Sky?

February 22; an hour after sunset; west: A crescent Moon and Jupiter are close, with Venus below.

February 18-20: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is between Orion and Taurus, about 18 degrees west of Betelgeuse, travelling southward. You’ll need binoculars or a telescope.