Rapidly Increasing Satellites Could Affect Our Search for Aliens

Although space exploration continues at a rapid pace, there is a big problem that comes with these studies: Space debris. We give this name to objects in orbit that no longer serve a useful function. The number of these objects, which pose a great danger in many respects, is increasing day by day. So much so that the data reveals that the number of objects larger than 1 cm is around 670 thousand.

Now, experts have announced that these wastes and active satellites can prevent future universe research. According to this, the sky may be full of satellites by the end of 2030 and astronomers will be able to observe; it may even hinder the search for a possible alien life.

“By 2030 the sky will be swarming with satellites and the number of stars we see will drop dramatically.”

First of all, let’s say that 8,000 satellites are currently orbiting the earth. That’s four times more than in 2019. This number is expected to increase significantly in the future. While it is said that 400,000 satellites have been approved to be launched into low Earth orbit, it is reported that SpaceX alone is preparing to launch 44,000 satellites for the Starlink service.

This is why the concerns of experts are increasing rapidly. Astronomers say that they are already struggling to cope with the light pollution caused by satellites, and that satellites are preventing optical telescopes from working. In addition, there are those who state that satellites that lose their function can turn into fireballs and cause great damage to observations due to the light generated.

Tony Tyson, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, says: “When you step out into a dark place and look up at the sky in 2030, you may encounter a very frightening scene. The sky will likely be swarming with moving moons and the number of stars we see will drop drastically. This is a very important issue.”

A sky filled with hundreds of thousands of satellites can make it difficult to detect possible signals from other civilizations.

Some agencies, including the UK Space Agency, held a conference last week due to the gravity of the situation. Robert Massey, one of the directors of the Royal Astronomical Society, says that we may see hundreds of thousands of satellites in orbit in the coming years, which may make it difficult to detect possible signals from other civilizations.

Massey also adds that this is also a cultural issue, with satellites damaging our natural landscape. On the other hand, it is stated that Vera Rubin’s telescope, which is located in Chile and will start its 10-year research to observe billions of stars and galaxies in July, will be seriously affected by objects in space.

In short, experts insist that the satellites we send should be treated in a controlled manner because of the problems they will create for both our environment and our space exploration.

Solutions are offered, such as making the design of the satellites not obstructing observations, removing them from the field of view of optical telescopes or removing inactive satellites from orbit. Of course, considering that there are already thousands of objects in space, we do not know how to prevent this situation.