SpaceX—Starlink satellites significantly degrade astronomical observations, affecting 30% of telescope images
SpaceX's Starlink constellation has caused substantial interference with ground-based astronomical observations. Studies show approximately 30% of twilight telescope images are now affected by satellite streaks. Gen-2 Starlink satellites emit radio signals 32 times stronger than Gen-1, severely impacting radio astronomy. The International Astronomical Union has repeatedly called for regulatory action, and observatories worldwide report degraded data quality for both optical and radio astronomy research.
Scoring Impact
| Topic | Direction | Relevance | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orbital Environment | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Overall incident score = | -0.443 | ||
Score = avg(topic contributions) × significance (high ×1.5) × confidence (0.59)× agency (negligent ×0.5)
Evidence (1 signal)
Peer-reviewed studies document Starlink satellites affecting 30% of telescope images and emitting 32× stronger radio interference
Multiple peer-reviewed studies documented Starlink's impact on astronomy. A July 17, 2025 study by Dylan Grigg (Curtin University) published in Astronomy and Astrophysics found up to 30% of radio astronomy images showed Starlink interference from analyzing 76 million images. A September 18, 2024 study by Observatoire de Paris-PSL in Astronomy and Astrophysics found Gen-2 'V2 mini' Starlink satellites emit up to 32 times more radio interference than Gen-1, with emissions 10 million times more intense than the faintest sources observed by LOFAR telescope. Interference exceeds International Telecommunication Union recommendations for the 150.5-153 MHz band allocated to radio astronomy. SpaceX launches 40 V2 mini satellites weekly.