American aerospace company SpaceX plans to launch so-called direct-to-cell (DTC) satellites into space for its Starlink internet satellite service, which, like the terrestrial mobile phone network, could be directly accessible with a smartphone without an additional antenna. Astronomers around the world are therefore concerned.
SpaceX launched six prototypes of the new satellites into space on January 3 of this year. After successful tests, the company has applied to the relevant regulatory authorities in the US for approval to launch 7,500 DTC satellites, which will orbit the Earth at an altitude of 340 to 345 kilometers. Reason enough for the IAU to further investigate the effects of the new satellites.
Up to five times brighter
Anthony Mallama and his colleagues from the IAU Center for the Protection of Dark Skies from Interference by Satellite Constellations not only collected reports from observers around the world on the six prototypes already in orbit. They also made precise measurements with the MMT9 robotic telescope at Russia’s Zelenchuk Observatory in the Caucasus. Overall, the new satellites were shown to shine up to 4.9 times brighter than the previous Starlink satellites.
However, the measurements can only provide a first impression, the scientists emphasize. It is still unclear how much the satellites’ antenna contributes to their brightness. In the past, SpaceX has shown itself to be quite cooperative with astronomers: using a whole range of measures – such as less reflective exterior paint – the brightness of the satellites could be reduced.
“If such measures are equally successful for the DTC satellites, the brightness increase could be reduced by about half to 2.6 times in the best case,” Mallama and his colleagues write.
Observations difficult
SpaceX currently operates more than 6,000 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit; the total is expected to exceed 34,000. And the more there are, the harder it will be for sky researchers to observe undisturbed. The IAU has had its own satellite tracking system for two years now, which astronomers can use to plan their observations.
Source: Krone
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