SpeedflyChrisJul 6, 2023
Mastodon Migration

So now guess what? Elon's space junk is screwing up radio astronomy too.

New Radio Astronomical Observations Confirm Unintended Electromagnetic Radiation Emanating from Large Satellite Constellations >>> https://cps.iau.org/news/new-radio-astronomical-observations-confirm-unintended-electromagnetic-radiation-emanating-from-large-satellite-constellations/

Anybody surprised?

And the plan is to let him launch 30,000 of these monstrosities!

Sign the petition: STOP! SpaceX Starlink from Spoiling Outer Space for Humanity. >>> https://www.change.org/p/stop-spacex-starlink-from-spoiling-outer-space-for-humanity

More on @AstroMigration

#SpaceX #StarLink #SpaceJunk

Jul 6, 2023 at 6:25amWeb
Show threadMastodon MigrationJul 7, 2023

@AstroMigration This post on how Elon is destroying space around our planet has garnered a lot of interest. You also might be interested in this article...

Space.com: SpaceX Starlink satellites had to make 25,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in just 6 months — and it will only get worse >>> https://www.space.com/starlink-satellite-conjunction-increase-threatens-space-sustainability

"Like swerving on a highway every 10 meters"

When these things do collide they will smash into thousands of pieces, each a threat to space navigation.

#SpaceX #Starink #SpaceJunk

SpaceX Starlink satellites had to make 25,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in just 6 months — and it will only get worse

Since the launch of the first Starlink spacecraft in 2019, the SpaceX satellites have been forced to move over 50,000 times to prevent collisions.

Space
Show threadMastodon MigrationJul 7, 2023

How bad will it get?

"...unless regulators cap the number of satellites in orbit, collisions will soon become a regular part of the space business. Such collisions would lead to rapid growth in the amount of space debris fragments that are completely out of control, which would lead to more and more collisions. The end point of this process might be the Kessler Syndrome... an unstoppable cascade of collisions that might render parts of the orbital environment completely unusable."

#SpaceJunk

Show threadColorado Angel 🥥🌴Jul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration people junk. land junk. sea junk. air junk. space junk. so much f-ing junk it makes a person weep.
Show threadニルス・スキニールJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration This is assuming, too, that there are no wars in space. The Space Force Commander is lobbying for more lethal weaponry and more aggressive US stance in space.
If that happens, even more debris.
Show threadTor LillqvistJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration Surprised that nobody mentioned this yet: https://youtu.be/nFCU_Ld9snU
Devo Space Junk

YouTube
Show threadPaul Wilde  :dontpanic_nobg:Jul 8, 2023
@mastodonmigration The "X" in "SpaceX" stands for "Closed" as in "Space 🚫" or "Space is Closed"
Show threadVinnie@WJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration at this rate they could just fix them together to cycle the earth like a train.
Show threadSayar Tyler Jul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration The first follow-up question I'd ask is, "whose space junk is it up there? SpaceX's? NASA's? Soviet junk from years ago?"
Show threadJohn Bell 🇺🇦🇪🇺🔸🕷️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Jul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration at that rate of increase, the chances of a collision increase too. Once there is a collision, then we’re on the slippery slope to a full #KesslerSyndrome
Show threadKim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷Jul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration How many times can a satellite manoeuvre before it exhausts its ability to do so? What happens then? 😱
Show threadlord pthenq1Jul 7, 2023

@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration

Me acabo de dar vuelta como una media con el tema de spacex y su satélites.

Conociendo ahora a el carácter del personaje le tengo cero confianza a que no genere un accidente colisionando satélites y generando una nube de escombros que nos ate la tierra por décadas...

Show threadMichael CrewsJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration Elon Musk's only talent is ruining commons.
Show threadLaconiaJul 13, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration I knew that for sure they had to make some adjustments but… What the heck are they doing.
Show threadMarc DidierJul 6, 2023

@mastodonmigration
I must wonder:
- Why is this petition only directed at spaceX and does not try to push for a global solution as there are other constellation and new ones planed?
- Why does the post lead with study which clearly states that a) the impact is yet not clear and b) highlights the willingness of spacex to find a solution (they tried with BlackSat and Visors already) and c) does itself call for global regulations

Not trying to defend spacex here. Just curious.

Show threadEeeee WooooJul 6, 2023
@egodotlu hmm maybe because the musk man is a wannabe doctor evil @mastodonmigration
Show threadMarc DidierJul 6, 2023
@EeeeWooo @mastodonmigration
So we're cool with massiv constellations from Mr. Nice Guys?
Show threadEeeee WooooJul 6, 2023
@egodotlu no we are cool with focusing on musk this week. We can use the musk tale to engage with people about other related issues. But a word of caution: The “what about” strategy is a losing one. It’s a thing you’d see on Twitter… like “what about Hillary ?” @mastodonmigration
Show threadRenéeJul 7, 2023

@EeeeWooo Thing is, the whole "let's ban TikTok!" was the exact same issue. Cowardly regulators afraid to impact domestic business categories (e.g. with toothsome privacy regs like GDPR) going after easy jingoism instead... It's whack-a-mole and doesn't do much to address the actual problem. And then the outrage-energy is dissipated, spent. By all means use Starlink as an *example,* but that isn't enough.

@egodotlu @mastodonmigration

Show threadLeo BistmansJul 6, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration #pinstripe looks way cool!
Show threadquangobaudJul 6, 2023
@LeoBistmans @mastodonmigration @AstroMigration
At last someone is brave enough to block out those darn stars! 👍
Now, if we can just get rid of those useless trees.
🥸
Show threadAdoxographyJul 6, 2023

@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration

Carnival is rolling access to these out on their Aida brand fleet. See: https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/successful-installation-spacexs-starlink-first-ships-aida-fleet

Show threadNaomiiJul 6, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration I don't like Elon and I like astronomy and the night sky. But outside of spaceX's potential monopoly on an important part of global internet infrastructure, and astronomy taking a hit. Is there a lot to worry about here?
Show threadMastodon MigrationJul 6, 2023
@Naomii @AstroMigration Astronomy taking a hit... is a very big deal.
Show threadNaomiiJul 6, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration I don't want to come off as callous I care about astronomy really. But how deeply will this impact lives? I dislike that this is done through capital but the infrastructure that is built here can positively impact many people's lives. So how will this negatively impact lives?
Show threadBenjamin WinkelJul 6, 2023

@Naomii @mastodonmigration @AstroMigration

Astronomy has very positively impacted our lifes. Just think about all the knowledge it created. IAU made a nice list: https://www.iau.org/public/themes/astronomy_in_everyday_life/

There is even more. Especially, radio astronomy techniques are fundamental for Geodesy (reference frames, Earth rotation parameters), which are of fundamental importance to spacecraft operation, too!

International Astronomical Union | IAU

Show threadBenjamin WinkelJul 6, 2023

@Naomii @mastodonmigration @AstroMigration

The night sky is very important to many people and also has a huge relevance in many cultures/religions.

Show threadBenjamin WinkelJul 6, 2023

@Naomii @mastodonmigration @AstroMigration

I'm not saying that connecting people is less valuable. But who should decide? I'd like to have a democratic process, not leaving this to few big corporations and one or two countries.

In the case of the US, the regulation authority is at least democratically legitimized. But the US only represent a small fraction of the World's population.

I'm also not blaming companies. They just do what companies do.

Show threadScoobyDoobieJul 6, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration
Make musks lil satelites target practice for us space weapons .
Show threadCyber kebabJul 6, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration Enshittification of space...
Show threadAllen but one of the good onesJul 6, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration Yeah, this was predicted form the very start. Satellites have always been a problem for radio telescopes, since they not only interfere with data collection but can actually damage the sensitive receivers. It used to just be a case of tracking all satellites and turning off the telescope when one passes through it's field of view, but that won't work for much longer because there will soon be too many.
Show threadMike TorrJul 6, 2023
@mastodonmigration That picture fills me with despair and dread. What kind of night sky will our grandchildren know?
Show threadMaya Alpizar Jul 6, 2023

@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration Yes, every astronomer knew this would be a problem. You either extract the noise or use the tiny window they leave, which is very difficult because of the rotation and trajectories. It will never be the same again.

I don't know, If we managed with atmosphere turbulence and adaptative optics, this might be easier to solve.

It sure is a pain in the...

Show threadJoaquínJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration wow this image is saddening
Show threadardenJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration that photo represents the end of astrophotography. Like what is the point if your photo is always going to have that junk in it.
Show threadKenneth John BardsleyJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration
Not just down to Musk, but to everyone who has filled space with so much junk.
Show threadUnHookedJul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration It's all part of the FAFO Model. by design the larger corps and wealthy decided to quietly fight over what should be up there and not clean up their waste... and here we are. Tada
Show threadDubiago 💫Jul 7, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration The intentions are good. I think, sadly, that astronomy and studies in astrophysics will become a thing that needs to be done out of LEO. We'll put up more space telescopes, and that's where genuine study will be done. Maybe that's better for radio astronomy--get away from earthly interference, both on the ground and in the skies.
Show threadTröglödÿtJul 7, 2023

@dubiago @mastodonmigration @AstroMigration

yeah let's make stargazing a thing for privileged middle class folks and people with the money to put huge things in high orbit, that's best for everyone

i wonder what's new on net flix

Show threadDubiago 💫Jul 11, 2023
@troglodyt @mastodonmigration @AstroMigration Just saying where I'm thinking things are going, not that I agree with it.
Show threadMastodon MigrationJul 7, 2023

@dubiago @AstroMigration Astronomy is not just the kind of big telescopes you are thinking of. There are facilities, that study different aspects of astronomy that are spread out over large areas. There are other efforts that coordinate observations from systems all over the world.

To write off all terrestrial astronomy because some rich a-hole wants to litter space with thousands of internet sats is a bad tradeoff.

Show threadDubiago 💫Jul 11, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration I have a 10" Newtonian, myself...but, sadly, it's not just satellites up above...it's the lights down below. Light pollution is getting harder to escape, terrestrially.
Show threadcatraxx Jul 8, 2023
@mastodonmigration @AstroMigration Whaaaaat SpaceX trashing up everything but i thought their reusable boosters solved all of the trash problems /s ​