An automated data-sharing system co-developed by SpaceX and American radio astronomers promises to protect radio telescopes around the world from disruptive interference from satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Big constellations such as SpaceX’s Starlink bring high-speed internet to people in remote, under-connected areas. But they also stain optical telescope images with streaks and disrupt observations by radio telescopes — highly sensitive antennas designed to detect weak radio waves emitted by distant galactic cores, black holes and neutron stars. Cosmic radio waves, travelling across distances of millions of light-years, are much fainter than radio signals used on Earth for radio or TV broadcasting and cellular telephony or WiFi. Sensitive radio telescopes are therefore usually surrounded by radio-quiet zones where no broadcasting or wireless communication devices are allowed. But no one bans satellites from overflying such zones. Should SpaceX reduce low earth orbits satellites ?
