--- title: "China Joins SpaceX in Ruining Astronomy for Everybody" description: "In its effort to compete with SpaceX, China has launched the first internet satellites in own constellation — and astronomers are irked." date: "2024-10-07" modified: "2024-10-07" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-spacex-satellites-brightness" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "china" - "SpaceX" - "starlink" - "the digest" --- # China Joins SpaceX in Ruining Astronomy for Everybody ![In its effort to compete with SpaceX, China has launched the first internet satellites in own constellation — and astronomers are irked.]() *\Image: CCTV\* ## Shine Bright In its effort to compete with SpaceX, [China has launched]() the first internet satellites in its own, competing constellation — and astronomers are rightfully peeved. As [*New Scientist* reports](), astronomers are concerned about the 18 satellites recently launched as the first of the country's Qianfan ("Thousand Sails") constellation. That's because they're really, really bright, which could seriously mess with observations of the night sky. "The Qianfan satellites in this first batch are bright enough to be seen by the unaided eye," Anthony Mallama, a satellite brightness expert at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) who coauthored a [new paper]() about the issue that's currently awaiting peer review, told *New Scientist*. "They will adversely impact research astronomy and the aesthetic appreciation of the night sky at their current brightness." As the IAU paper explains, the [Qianfan satellites launched in August]() of this year are not only brighter than SpaceX's Starlink satellites, they're brighter than all but 500 stars in the night sky. That's a massive problem for Earth-bound astronomers because they can [create bright streaks on telescopic images](). ## Listening to Experts Despite [being among]() the many astronomers who've [long criticized Starlink]() for [blocking the dark night sky](), Mallama lauded SpaceX for [reducing the brightness]() of its satellite fleet after astronomers called the Elon Musk-owned company out. China could, if it wanted, do the same with Qianfan — but because there's no international body regulating satellites, it's technically not required to do anything about it. "It’s difficult to know whether they are listening to the concerns of astronomers," Mallama told *New Scientist*. While there certainly is a chance China will ignore the cries of dark night sky advocates, another expert said the country may acquiesce if only to be a good sport. "Chinese operators want to be viewed as responsible space actors, and they certainly see SpaceX as the leader to emulate,” explained Ian Christensen, an executive at the Secure World Foundation space advocacy group. "So the fact that SpaceX and other operators have engaged in this mitigation work may lead to Chinese operators also viewing it as important." With only eight of the [planned thousands of internet satellites]() currently launched, China's space-based telecom dreams are just starting to take shape — and hopefully, its leaders will heed the astronomy community's concerns. **More on Chinese satellites:** [*Chinese Researchers Say They Can Detect Stealth Aircraft Using Starlink Satellites*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()