Their brightness has created potential problems of space pollution and glare that obstruct astronomers’ view.
(Image: © Marco Langbroek via SatTrackBlog)
What are Starlink satellites?
Starlink is a project that aims to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband Internet system. It is run by SpaceX, a Californian rocket company funded by technology billionaire Elon Musk.
Musk hopes that the Starlink constellation will one day offer high-performance, low-cost Wi-Fi to people around the planet or in places where access has been unreliable, expensive or completely non-existent,” the official website explains.
This means putting a “mega constellation” of more than 40,000 satellites into orbit. So far, more than 420 satellites have been launched, and the network is set to reach 12,000 and in a second phase 42,000 satellites in the future. SpaceX sends its satellites in batches of 60 at a time. Each cluster is launched with an unmanned Falcon 9 rocket built and operated by SpaceX.
Why are Starlink satellites so bright?
When you see a Starlink satellite in the sky, you’ll probably be surprised how bright they look. What you’re actually seeing is light reflected off the Starlink satellites’ solar panels.Being so close to the Earth, it’s not surprising that we can see them with the naked eye. According to Musk, the brightness is particularly noticeable when the satellites are rising to the altitude of the orbit, due to the angle of the panels. The brightness ruins telescope observation with problems for astronomers because of the strong light they reflect, preventing them from doing research work.
Do they have a Solution?
Aerospace engineers are experimenting with a variety of methods to reduce reflectivity. In January, they sent the ‘DarkSat’, a satellite with an experimental anti-reflective coating. Last month, during a Starlink mission, they shared data indicating a “marked reduction” in DarkSat’s reflectivity.
In addition, SpaceX will make satellite tracking data available so that astronomers can better coordinate their observations with the satellites.
One of the new mitigation efforts SpaceX engineers are working on is an ‘umbrella’-like visor, which will prevent the sunlight from falling on to the most reflective part of these satellites. “We’re taking some key steps to reduce the brightness of the satellites”, Musk shared. He also said it should be much less noticeable during orbit rise by changing the angle of the solar panels starting with launch number 9
The way these satellites will affect the night sky is worrying because they are in a low orbit, so they appear brighter than the stars and planets.
We hope that SpaceX can really provide an efficient solution, so that astronomers can continue with observations as they did before May 2019, when the first 60 satellites were launched.
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