A recent video from NASA astronaut Don Pettit shows a group of “cosmic fireflies” dancing above Earth’s horizon, but they are not celestial wonders. Instead, they are Starlink satellites momentarily flashing sunlight towards the International Space Station.
The video initially sparked wonder, but Pettit gave reality check, explaining that the glimmering lights are actually human-made objects in low Earth orbit. SpaceX launched its first Starlink satellite in 2019 as a way to provide internet connectivity to remote areas. Over 6,700 satellites are now in orbit, with more on the way.
The problem is that these satellites interfere with astronomical observations by reflecting sunlight and adding noise to images captured by ground-based observatories. The satellites’ bright streaks appear in scientific data and can make it difficult for astronomers to get accurate readings.
SpaceX plans to launch 42,000 internet satellites into orbit, but so far, the Federal Aviation Administration has only granted approval for 12,000 Starlinks. Other countries are also launching their own megaconstellations, including China’s “Thousand Sails” initiative, which could include up to 13,000 satellites.
To mitigate the problem, SpaceX is working with astronomers to reduce the reflectivity of its satellites. This can be done by changing the orientation of solar panels or installing a “sunshade” on the satellites. However, these efforts are still in progress, and SpaceX is continuing to launch new satellites without slowing down its expansion plans.
Source: https://gizmodo.com