SpaceX’s Starlink Helps During US Hurricane But Blocks Outer Space Research While Playing A Part In Wars

When Elon Musk launched his Starlink satellite system to provide the world with high-speed internet no matter where they were on the planet, everyone was excited at the prospect of unlimited connectivity.

While the service has delivered on its promise so far, it also has shown a few drawbacks and dangers, all of which made the news recently, uncovering the good, the bad and the ugly of Starlink.

The Good

Starlink, which is owned and operated by SpaceX, its parent company, has come to the aid of hurricane-hit residents of North Carolina.
As per the US government, dozens of Starlink satellites were aligned to offer high-speed internet access to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.
Furthermore, more than 100 satellites are in transit to strengthen internet connectivity in the regions devastated by the natural disaster.
An official statement by FEMA later revealed that 40 Starlink satellites were already available to help with responder communications and an additional 140 will soon be deployed.
The move builds on one of the primary missions of SpaceX’s Starlink, which included providing high-speed internet to regions where broadband or other connectivity is scarce or to areas affected by natural calamities and disasters.
Currently, Starlink provides fast broadband internet globally, including in remote areas such as Ukraine, Yemen and rural UK regions.
While this move displayed the satellite system’s benefits, having such a large number of satellites in low earth orbit AKA LEO (at around 342 miles above Earth) comes at a cost, exposing its bad side.

The Bad

While SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are improving communication capabilities on Earth, they’re hindering scientists’ ability to peer into space.
As per researchers and scientists from the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), the radio waves from these satellites are disrupting astronomical research.
Newer Starlink satellites are causing more interference with radio telescopes than earlier versions and their emissions exceed the regulations set by the International Telecommunications Union, the industry body.
Thousands of satellites are "blinding" radio telescopes and potentially hindering important astronomical research, according to the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON).
With an estimated 6,402 satellites currently in orbit and the number set to go past 100,000 by 2030, this could soon become a major problem.
Astronomers argue that the benefits of satellite internet come at the cost of interference with space observation.
Professor Jessica Dempsey, director of ASTRON, said, “Every time more of these are launched with these kinds of emission levels, we see less and less of the sky.”
“We're trying to look at things like the jets, which are emitted from black holes in the center of galaxies. We also look at some of the earliest galaxies, millions and millions of light years away, as well as exoplanets.”
Starlink did not comment on the matter.

TechDogs-"An Image Representing A Starlink Satellite Train"

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The Ugly

While Starlink has expanded its satellite-based internet service to over 100 countries and territories, its services have played a pivotal role in the Russo-Ukrainian War, used by both Russia and Ukraine for communication.
This, despite Elon Musk denied any business relationship between Starlink and Russian entities, stating Starlink does not operate in Russia.
As per the Ukrainian website Defense Express, when Ukrainian defense forces shot down 28 drones in the Kharkiv region last week, they found drones with Starlink-branded equipment in the wreckage.
The drones were Russian copies of the Iranian Shahed-136 (popularly known as suicide drone), designed for long-range attacks and aerial reconnaissance.
These Geran-2 drones offer a range of 1,553 miles while carrying explosive warheads that weigh 110 pounds.
While unclassified US Army reports note the Iranian drone possesses photographic capabilities, no Russian drone has been found with cameras.
Photos from a destroyed drone showed a Starlink satellite dish with a serial number that could trace the hardware's origin.
It’s speculated Russia is now installing Starlink terminals on its drones after previously using 4G modems with Ukrainian SIM cards.
Starlink’s upload speeds, up to 20 Mbps, enable real-time video streaming for Russian operatives.
Despite threats from Russia and China to shoot down Starlink satellites, the Kremlin appears to exploit Starlink for drone communications in Ukraine.

Do you think Starlink’s project needs to be reconsidered as it blocks scientists and researchers from studying space or is the trade-off for enhanced global communications worth it?

Let us know in the comments below!

First published on Tue, Oct 1, 2024

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DronesVideo SurveillanceSurveillance SpaceX Starlink Elon Musk Hurricane Helene FEMA USA Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy ASTRON Radio Waves Radio Telescopes Russia Ukraine War

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SpaceX’s Starlink Helps During US Hurricane But Blocks Outer Space Research While Playing A Part In Wars

The Good

The Bad

The Ugly

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