--- title: "Scientists: SpaceX Satellites Threaten “Astronomy Itself”" description: "Not only could SpaceX's satellites interfere with radio wavelengths, they're already proving to be brighter than expected." date: "2019-11-12" modified: "2019-11-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/scientists-spacex-satellites-threaten-astronomy-itself" categories: - "Science & Energy" - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "Astronomy" - "satellites" - "SpaceX" - "starlink" --- # Scientists: SpaceX Satellites Threaten “Astronomy Itself” ![Not only could SpaceX's satellites interfere with radio wavelengths, they're already proving to be brighter than expected.]() *\Image: Victoria Girgis/Lowell Observatory/Victor Tangermann\* Elon Musk-led spacetech company SpaceX wants to bring broadband internet to everybody on the planet by launching tens of thousands of small "Starlink" satellites to low Earth orbit. The Federal Communications Commission already gave SpaceX permission to operate a maximum of [30,000 of them]() — eight times as many satellites as are currently in orbit, [according to the European Space Agency](). The company is rapidly rolling the network out: yesterday, it [launched 60 more Starlink satellites]() into orbit, bringing up the total to just 120 so far. 24 deployments are still planned to roll out global internet service by 2021. And that has many astronomers worried, [*The New York Times* reports](). Not only could the satellites interfere with radio wavelengths of sensitive equipment used by astronomers, but they're already proving to be brighter than expected. Thousands of extremely bright satellites could make it look "as if the whole sky is crawling with stars," Smith College astronomer James Lowenthal told the *Times.* Worse, they could end up interfering with dark sky surveys and large telescopes. "If there are lots and lots of bright moving objects in the sky, it tremendously complicates our job," Lowenthal told the *Times*. "It potentially threatens the science of astronomy itself." Chief scientist Anthony Tyson from the University of California, Davis, also argued that photobombing satellites could cause survey telescopes to pick up bright streaks of light. "It’s really a mess," Tyson said. It's not the first time SpaceX's controversial project has received criticism from scientists. Earlier this year, *Scientific American* [reported]() that Starlink could end up causing "cascades of space junk." In June, the International Astronomical Union, made up of more than 12,000 astronomy professionals, [called]() for the regulation of SpaceX's Starlink initiative, arguing that it could interfere with space exploration efforts. **READ MORE:** [As SpaceX Launches 60 Starlink Satellites, Scientists See Threat to ‘Astronomy Itself’]() **More on Starlink:** *[Watch SpaceX Launch 60 Starlink Satellites]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()