A growing new satellite built to connect directly to mobile phones on Earth appears brighter than most of the stars in the night sky. According to astronomers, this satellite poses a significant threat to their work and humanity’s view of the universe.
The disturbing orbital object is AST SpaceMobile’s Bluewalker 3 satellite, launched September 10. The satellite’s 64-square-foot solar panels and antenna assembly were fully unveiled earlier this month.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has put together observations that show the satellite is just as bright in the night sky as stars like Antares and Spica, the 15th and 16th brightest stars, respectively. Another study says it’s slightly less reflective, on par with the 22nd brightest star.
Bluewalker 3 isn’t the only object worrying astronomers. In space to serve as a test model for more than 100 satellites called the Bluebirds team, which the company plans to launch as part of its plan to build a satellite network to provide 5G connectivity.
“BlueWalker 3 is a big change in the constellation satellite thing and should give us all reason to pause,” said Piero Benvenuti, director of the IAU Center for Conservation of Darkness and Quiet Sky from the Satellite Constellation Initiative.
It’s a well-known fact that astronomers are concerned about the potential impacts of thousands of satellites like SpaceX’s Starlink. The IAU says AST SpaceMobile’s plans will also present new problems because of the powerful radio waves they will send that could interfere with astronomical observations.
Philip Diamond, director of the Order of the Square Kilometer Observatory in South Africa and Australia, worries that orbiting “base stations” are not subject to the same “quiet zone” restrictions that protect radio astronomers from the interference of terrestrial cellular data networks.
“Astronomers are looking for places on the planet where there is limited or no cell phone coverage by building their radio telescopes as far away from human activity as possible,” says Diamond. It jeopardizes our ability to do science.”
The IAU states that it has started discussions with AST SpaceMobile about potential mitigation measures. “We are actively working with industry experts on the latest innovations, including next-generation anti-reflective materials,” the company said through a spokesperson.
Abel Avellan, CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said earlier this month that the goal is to create a constellation that will eliminate mobile dead zones on Earth: “Everyone should have the right to access cellular broadband, wherever they live or work. closing the connection gaps that negatively affect life.”
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