Starlink is a satellite constellation being constructed by SpaceX to provide satellite Internet access. The constellation will consist of
thousands of mass-produced small
satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), working in combination with ground transceivers. SpaceX also plans to sell some of the
satellites for military, scientific,
or exploratory purposes.
Musk had noted in the
past that the project needed at least 400 satellites to launch and Wednesday,
he sent 60 more devices into space – bringing the total to 422.
The project aims to have
the devices form a constellation around the planet from a distance of 200 miles
to 700 miles above the surface and transmit data to stations and customers on
the ground.
Ever since Space X
launched its first batch of internet-beaming satellites last year, astronomers
were watching it as the company continued to blast more spacecraft into
orbit. Could this ballooning constellation of bright satellites fill the night
sky with artificial light and new data is partially validating what many
astronomers have feared since that first launched.
Nearly 12000 starlink satellites will rotate around
the Earth, which makes the astronomer worried that astronomy may get an heavy
impact or affected for it. That meant scientists looking for distant objects
beyond Neptune including the hunt for mysterious planets which may fall into
trouble if Starlink project is completed. Meanwhile, scientists are also learning if SpaceX’s effort to mitigate
the brightness of its satellites is actually going to work. The company coated
one of its satellites in an attempt to make it appear less visible in the sky. Though
it’s a major challenge that SpaceX and astronomer may face in the near future
which is a rising concern in the field of astronomy.
By Arkadeep Roy
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