The deployment of communications antennas for the BlueWalker 3 communications satellite, which is expected to be used by large operators such as AT&T, was completed on November 14, 2022. However, it was discovered that Blue Walker 3 had a problem of excessive brightness, which influenced astronomical observations. Furthermore, it should be noted that the radio waves emitted by Blue Walker 3 may interfere with the observation radio waves of the radio telescope.
Blue Walker 3 is an artificial satellite developed as a prototype for BlueBirds, a large-scale communications network using 168 satellites designed by AST SpaceMobile. Large operators plan to use the AST SpaceMobile network in the future. In this Blue Walker 3, 64m to realize ground communication2Although it is equipped with a huge reflective antenna that reaches up to 1,000, the light reflected from the antenna is too bright, which affects the observation of terrestrial objects.
Currently, several companies such as SpaceX and Starlink are developing satellite Internet services and several communication satellites are already deployed in space. However, according to astronomers, Blue Walker 3 is brighter than the Starlink satellites and appears as a bright speck in astronomical telescope observations. It underlines the risk of hampering astronomical observations, pointing out that it could make it difficult to detect astronomical objects, including those that pose a danger to the Earth.
There are several brighter artifacts than Blue Walker 3 in space. For example, the International Space Station shines 40 times brighter than Blue Walker 3. However, since the current location of the International Space Station is public, astronomers can implement countermeasures, such as changing the direction of the telescope. On the other hand, AST Space Mobile does not respond to requests from astronomers to share location information about Blue Walker 3.
AST Space Mobile said it is working with experts to develop technologies, including next-generation anti-reflection materials, saying it is trying to use the latest technologies and strategies to reduce the impact on astronomy. He appealed to the attitude of reducing the influence of astronomical observations. He also added that Starlink plans to launch tens of thousands of satellites, but its satellites won’t interfere with astronomy.
The problem with Blue Walker 3 is not just optical. Unlike other internet services, Blue Walker 3 aims to provide communication services in 4G and 5G. For this reason, Blue Walker 3 needs to use radio waves in a wider band than other communication satellites, and it should be noted that the radio waves used can interfere with radio telescope observation radio waves.
On Earth, the use of radio waves for use as radio telescopes is strictly limited. However, homogeneous regulation does not apply in space. It is emphasized that the current regulation was enacted in the 1960s, long before private companies entered the space, and that the current system does not adequately respond to the rapid development of technology. US government authorities are directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review the satellite rules on November 2, 2022, and the FCC will establish a space agency the following day. With the establishment of the space agency it is expected that rules suitable for future technological situations will be issued. Related information this placecan be found in