Starlink: Nasa expresses concern about SpaceX satellite program

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This illustration shows the network of Starlink satellites in space

Photo: Science Photo Library / IMAGO

The US space agency Nasa has expressed concerns about SpaceX's Starlink satellite program.

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In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission - the US agency responsible for communications and satellites - the space agency said: "Nasa is concerned about the potential increase in collisions and possible impact on NASA's scientific and human space missions." .

Tesla founder and multi-billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX company had previously received approval for 12,000 satellites to bring broadband internet to remote areas.

SpaceX then applied for approval of an additional 30,000 second-generation satellites under the Starlink program.

The number of monitored objects would double

The expansion "would more than double the number of monitored objects in Earth orbit and more than fivefold the number of objects below 600 kilometers," NASA said.

According to the space agency, a total of 25,000 objects are currently being tracked in Earth orbit - about 6,100 are at an altitude of less than 600 kilometers.

SpaceX did not respond to the space agency's statement for a short time.

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Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, of the American Astronomical Society, also said, "We are concerned about the large number of satellites interfering with astronomical observations." we can rise to tens of thousands«.

The risk of collisions increases

Competing companies like Amazon and Dish Network, which are working on their own satellite programs, have also reported concerns to the Federal Communications Commission that overlapping orbits could dramatically increase risks.

In mid-January, SpaceX boss Musk announced on Twitter: 1,469 Starlink satellites are currently active, and 272 more will soon be put into orbit.

As recently as Tuesday, February 8, SpaceX had reported that 40 new Starlink satellites had crashed after a solar storm.

The satellites had not yet reached their planned orbit at this time.

vki/Reuters