RFI from above is Anything but Heavenly Interference
/Starlink satellites are emitting RFI that is causing issues for radio astronomers, even in so-called "radio quiet zones," such as the outback of Western Australia.
That is the finding of a research team that published their findings recently in the journal, Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters. Steven Tingay of Curtin University writes on the Cosmos magazine website that, using radio telescopes, the researchers detected signals at a number of licensed radio frequencies but their greatest concern was over intended and unintended emissions from elsewhere. They traced those to Starlink satellites. The scientists' tests were conducted at the site where an SKA-Low facility is to be built in Western Australia.
The research paper's purpose was to demonstrate that Starlink emissions were easily detected by “low-frequency” radio antennas that the scientists were using to represent the SKA-Low station such as one intended for that site. Known as version 2 of the Engineering Development Array, the antennas were utilised at 137.5 MHz and 159.4 MHz.
“Our results indicate that both intended and unintended radiation from Starlink satellites will be detrimental to key SKA science goals without mitigation.”
The team recommends dialogue with SpaceX to work on a means of mitigation involving the use of version 2 of the Engineering Development Array at the site.
