SpaceX's Starlink Satellites Are Leaking More Radio Waves Than Ever

2 years ago by just_another_person to c/science

"This problem is becoming increasingly worse."

apfelwoiSchoppen 37 points 2 years ago

Technofeudalism is going great. 😥

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linearchaos 7 points 2 years ago

If they're still using the same frequency bands as before, would this really have a much greater impact? I would think that, for radio astronomy, even a small amount of radio interference could make those bands unusable. A one-watt signal from 100 miles away would have the same effect as a six-watt signal, easily overwhelming the faint signals we're detecting from light years away.

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JaumeI 33 points 2 years ago

First paragraph...

Satellite swarms orbiting the Earth are leaking more radiation into protected wavelength bands than ever.

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linearchaos 1 point 2 years ago

Well it certainly sounds like they can do a better job It only using the intended frequencies. I wonder if they're cheaping out on hardware doesn't seem like their MO.

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piecat 20 points 2 years ago

Proper EMC requires good design, additional components, and good shielding.

Components and shielding add cost directly, but also increase weight, which is probably millions times more expensive in fuel.

I bet they cheaped out on their shielding. Especially given the volume of sats they're trying to use.

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linearchaos 11 points 2 years ago

Last I heard it was something like $3K a kilogram to get a ride on falcon. Compared to their cost overall for each unit it's pennies.

We used to shield the hell out of everything, but we've gotten away from that in recent decades. We're getting particularly good at generating only the frequencies we need.

I'm thinking that they made a last minute business decision to push the amplifiers too hard, or maybe they decided not to update the tech and just push it harder.

There's no way they didn't run basic testing on the hardware to make sure that it was putting out appropriate frequencies.

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Someonelol 5 points 2 years ago

Someone had to have signed off on a mission assurance spec waiver if they're leaking a lot of EMI. If they didn't check with the FCC on this they might be in big trouble. Who am I kidding? This was probably done with their blessing.

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Bob1971 3 points 2 years ago

One slightly high powered laser... problem solved.

(is joke.. ha ha. Gee you science folks are touchy)

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HeyThisIsntTheYMCA 1 point 2 years ago

who could have predicted this

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JoeDyrt57 1 point 2 years ago

That’s not leaking! That’s wireless internet!

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