SpaceX's New Starlink Satellites Brighter Than Ever, Raising Concerns

SpaceX is facing criticism as its latest batch of Starlink satellites, designed to provide direct-to-cell phone

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Aug 7, 2024 - 21:57
SpaceX's New Starlink Satellites Brighter Than Ever, Raising Concerns
The image shows diagonal lines caused by the light reflected by a group of 25 Starlink satellites passing through the field of view of a telescope at Lowell Observatory in Arizona during observations of the NGC 5353/4 galaxy group on May 25, 2019. (Image credit: Victoria Girgis/Lowell Observatory)

SpaceX is facing criticism as its latest batch of Starlink satellites, designed to provide direct-to-cell phone service, are significantly brighter than their predecessors. These new satellites, orbiting closer to Earth at a height of 217 miles, are nearly five times brighter than traditional Starlink internet satellites.

While SpaceX aims to revolutionize global connectivity with its "cellphone tower in space" concept, the increased brightness of these satellites is causing alarm among astronomers. The fear is that the growing number of bright objects in the night sky will interfere with astronomical observations.

Despite successfully demonstrating text messaging and video calls using the new satellites, SpaceX has received a license amendment to deploy up to 7,500 of these brighter satellites in low Earth orbit. This raises questions about the potential impact on both technology and environmental concerns.

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