Deep space experts prove Elon Musk's Starlink is interfering in scientific work

https://lemmy.world/post/1281556

Deep space experts prove Elon Musk's Starlink is interfering in scientific work - Lemmy.world

Scientists, looking deep into space, have long voiced their concerns that satellites are encroaching on their ability to study the cosmos.

On Reddit I remember getting called a “space Karen” for pointing this out in a discussion about Starlink. Elon Musk fanboys are some of the worst. Second only to Q fanboys.

Well the issue is that not everything is black and white.

On one hand, these satellites can potentially absolutely wreak havok on astronomy, and our own view of the night sky. Nobody wants that.

On the other hand, in a few years, these satellites are able to provide cheap internet all over the planet, which would allow poor remote communities in South America, Africa, and Asia access to the internet, which is practically impossible through any other means. IMO, its worth the tradeoff. I think helping people is more important than astronomy, but I recognize that that’s just my opinion

Okay but you’re falling into Elon’s trap. You can’t weigh future potential against current harm naively. Particularly when it comes from somebody with a long history of over promising and under delivering. Since we pay the full price up front (loss of science, etc) but will never reap the full benefits promised.

It’s not a distant future, the benefits are already here and increasing with each launch.

I’ve been tracking a sailboat crossing the Atlantic Ocean the past weeks which have been able to upload videos to YouTube everyday, something that would be impossible without Starlink.

Of course, this specific use case isn’t important, just used it to point out that Starlink is already working well.