NASA astronaut Don Pettit, on his fourth trip into orbit, continues to delight with his unique images taken from the International Space Station (ISS). From the stars and lights of urban agglomerations to the so-called “space fireflies” that are actually SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, footage taken from the ISS illustrates the complex world unfolding above our planet.
Cosmic fireflies. Actually, these are Starlink satellites momentarily flashing sunlight towards @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/rOKUdLlP3f
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) December 1, 2024
Starlink is a global network of satellites developed by SpaceX to provide Internet access from space. As of 2024, the company has already launched more than 6,700 of these vehicles into low-Earth orbit and has an ambitious goal of increasing that number to 42,000. At the same time, satellites that reflect sunlight become increasingly visible, both in observations from Earth and to astronauts at the orbital outpost.
Pettit said the glare, which he called “space fireflies,” was the result of sunlight reflecting off the satellites. These glares are vividly visible even at an altitude of 400 kilometers, where the ISS is located.
Starlink’s impact on astronomy
The active deployment of Starlink satellites poses serious challenges for scientific observations. Astronomers have long raised the alarm: the glare from satellites interferes with ground-based telescopes, making it difficult to study distant galaxies and stars.
The new second-generation Starlink V2 satellites, with deployment beginning in 2023, add another challenge. The electromagnetic radiation from these new satellites is causing disruptions to radio astronomy observatories, and the number of such satellites is increasing by 40 every week.
Prof. Jessica Dempsey, director of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), warns of the threat satellites pose to all terrestrial astronomy: “If the problem is not solved, it will become an existential threat to many areas of science.”
SpaceX’s efforts and astronomers’ skepticism
SpaceX recognizes the problem and is working on a solution. In particular, the company is improving the design of satellites to reduce glare. However, the scientific community is skeptical, especially in the context of radio astronomy, where solving the problem requires complex and expensive solutions.
As SpaceX continues to launch new satellites, the challenges of space technology’s impact on science become more important. And although satellites provide Internet access to millions of users, their impact on scientific research remains a serious topic of debate.
Previously, we shared a fantastic view of Earth from aboard the ISS.
Provided by Digital Trends
