SpaceX’s plans to orbit thousands of satellites around Earth could become a significant burden on other space missions and observations. This was emphasized by the American space agency NASA in response to the announcement of new activities that SpaceX wants to develop.
SpaceX recently announced that it has requested a license for the second generation of its Starlink network. Thirty thousand satellites would be launched.
Starlink had previously been authorized to build a network of approximately 12,000 satellites to provide broadband internet worldwide.
Possible incidents
“NASA is concerned about potential incidents caused by the large presence of objects could potentially arise in this environment,” the space agency stressed in a letter to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). “This could potentially have negative consequences for NASA’s science and manned missions.”
NASA also noted that there are currently a total of 25,000 objects in orbit around the earth are followed. There are about 6,100 elements in an area that extends up to 600 kilometers above the earth’s surface.
Starlink’s second-generation internet satellites would more than double the number of tracked objects in orbit around the Earth. US space agency at. “The number of objects within an orbit 600 kilometers above the Earth’s surface could even increase fivefold.”
astronomers
Similar concerns were also raised by Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Institute and a member of the American Astronomical Society panel investigating the effects of satellites on astronomy.
“We are concerned about the presence of large numbers of satellites interfering with astronomical observations,” he added. “Perhaps it is advisable to first gain experience with the current group of operational satellites before tens of thousands of copies to be confronted.”
Amazon, which has pledged to invest at least $10 billion in the construction of 3,236 satellites through its Project Kuiper space program, has separately raised concerns about SpaceX’s plans with the US communications committee.
It was noted that the additional SpaceX satellites would be located in the area where Project Kuiper is also operational. Amazon argued that this could put Project Kuiper’s satellites at greater risk.
The American Communications Commission was asked to impose reasonable conditions on the operators.
The American satellite company Dish Network has also said it is concerned about SpaceX’s new plans.
(evb)
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