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A group of experienced astronomers has issued a statement of concern regarding the next-generation communication satellites currently being deployed by Elon Musk's SpaceX company.
The Musk company plans to launch 12,000 vehicles, the Starlink satellites, to form the infrastructure of a bold attempt to provide global broadband Internet service. The resulting constellation will also be made available for a fee for research and military purposes.
The first 60 Starlinks were launched at the end of May 2019, in a spectacular convoy that caused an avalanche of UFO reports – and sparked deep concerns among space scientists.
A problem for astronomers is the reflectivity of the resulting constellations. Previously, SpaceX had assured scientists that Starlinks would barely be visible. However, the first tranche of satellites was much more reflective than expected.
According to the researchers, the objects could possibly disturb terrestrial and spatial observations.
Megan Donahue of Michigan State University (USA), head of the American Astronomical Society, said the Musk fleet, as well as likely competitors using similar technologies, could eventually outpace the number stars visible in the night sky.
"I think the dissemination of information and opportunities made possible by Internet access is laudable and very impressive engineering," says Donahue. "But, like many astronomers, I am very worried about the future of these bright new satellites."
At its annual meeting recently held in St. Louis, Missouri, the ASA board of directors went so far as to make an official statement noting "with concern" the imminent deployment of dozens of thousands of Starlink-style satellites in the next few years.
Scientists have warned that this device could create "substantial detrimental effects" for astronomy, which would not be limited to distractions caused by brighter lights in the sky.
"These impacts could include a significant disruption of optical and near-infrared observations by the direct detection of satellites in reflected and transmitted light," said the trustees, "the contamination of radio astronomical observations by electromagnetic radiation in satellite communication; and collision with space observatories. "
Donahue and his colleagues called for a permanent collaborative effort between ASA scientists and those of research organizations around the world to achieve a "thorough and quantitative understanding" of satellite constellations before too much others are launched.
Astronomers have also insisted that, although they can not, as scientists, claim the visual properties of the sky, neither Musk nor its competitors.
"The natural night sky is a resource not only for astronomers, but for all those who look up to understand and appreciate the splendor of the universe. Its degradation has many negative impacts beyond the astronomical, "says Jeffrey Hall of the Lowell Observatory in the United States.
"I appreciate the initial conversation we've already had with SpaceX and I look forward to working with my colleagues at ASA and with all stakeholders to understand and mitigate the effects of the growing number of satellites in orbit near Earth."
SpaceX Starlink satellites seen illuminate the skies over the Netherlands on May 24, 2019. Marco Langbroek
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