Line-moving Space Internet 'Starlink Train'... Threatening Space Travel? [Juhyung Lim's Tech Talk]

US Elon Musk's Ultra-Fast Space Internet 'Starlink' Satellites
50-60 Satellite Clusters Move in Formation... Nicknamed 'Starlink Train'
Concerns Over Light Pollution and Satellite Collision Risks
International Astronomical Union Calls for International Guidelines on Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks

In the early morning of the 8th (local time) in Valais, Switzerland, an amateur astrophotographer captured the night sky. Starlink satellites are moving in a line. / Photo by YouTube capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] At 3:27 a.m. local time on the 8th, streaks of light arranged in a straight line crossed the night sky over the canton of Valais, Switzerland. Oliver Steiger, an amateur photographer from Switzerland who captured the footage, explained, "This is the movement of 57 latest Starlink L9 satellites launched by SpaceX, founded by American entrepreneur Elon Musk, moving in orbit," adding, "The satellites moving in a line look like a 'train'."

Netizens who watched the video expressed amazement with comments such as, "I also saw the 'Starlink train' yesterday. It was truly beautiful," "The satellites move so precisely," and "It looks like an alien spaceship fleet."

Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX to provide uninterrupted satellite internet worldwide are attracting attention from netizens. Starlink, which moves in squadrons of 50 to 60 satellites, has earned the nickname 'Starlink train' due to its unique collective flight pattern. A website service has even been created to indicate the sky position where the train passes for observers.

However, concerns have been raised that large-scale satellite network projects like Starlink could cause long-term space pollution and negatively impact the space industry. When hundreds of satellites enter Earth's orbit at once, orbital traffic becomes congested, increasing the risk of collisions.

Experts emphasize the need for international regulations on the rapidly increasing large-scale satellite networks.

Starlink is a global satellite internet network construction project independently carried out by Musk's SpaceX, aiming to launch 12,000 satellites into Earth's orbit by the mid-2020s to provide uninterrupted ultra-high-speed internet at around 1Gbps.

Satellite internet services themselves existed before, such as 'ViaSat' and 'HughesNet.' However, existing satellite internet was problematic because it was built by placing a few large satellites in geostationary orbit 35,000 km above the Earth. The long distance between the ground and satellites caused latency, and the small number of satellites limited the countries that could maintain the service.

To solve these problems, SpaceX launches small satellites weighing 400 kg into low Earth orbit (about 1,100 km above the ground) to realize 'uninterrupted internet.' They also plan to densely deploy 12,000 satellites across the entire sky to maintain Starlink service on all continents.

The 'Starlink Train' phenomenon captured last year. A group of satellites released into low Earth orbit align and then move to their designated positions. / Photo by Internet Community Capture

For this reason, SpaceX launches Starlink satellites in 'satellite fleets' each time they load them onto rockets. In other words, SpaceX loads up to 60 satellites onto one 'Falcon 9' rocket, and when the rocket reaches low Earth orbit, it releases them all at once.

The 60 satellites released into orbit use position adjustment systems to align in a straight line and then move to designated locations, creating the so-called 'Starlink train' phenomenon during this process.

The Falcon 9 rockets carrying Starlink satellite fleets have been launched a total of 12 times as of the 18th. The number of Starlink satellites deployed in Earth's orbit has reached 655. The Starlink train is occasionally spotted in the night skies of countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and Switzerland, and satellite location information websites like 'Heavens Above' provide services showing the route and position of the Starlink train.

However, concerns have also been raised that large-scale satellite network projects like Starlink could threaten astronomical research and the space industry. In particular, the Starlink train is said to interfere with the night sky for astronomers who need to detect faint starlight.

According to research published by the European Southern Observatory in February, the reflected light from satellite clusters can impair the detection capabilities of broadband survey telescopes on the ground. Additionally, the radio transmission bands of clustered satellites overlap with frequencies widely used in radio astronomy, potentially affecting radio telescopes as well.

There are also concerns that with satellite networks in low Earth orbit, 'space traffic accidents' involving collisions between satellites could occur.

Currently, global companies are accelerating rocket launches to build large-scale internet satellite networks like Starlink.

Last May, 60 Starlink satellites loaded on the Falcon 9 rocket were aligned in the payload section. / Photo by SpaceX

Earlier in July, the British government, which acquired a 45% stake in the satellite internet company 'OneWeb,' has been launching 30 to 36 low Earth orbit satellites per month. The company plans to deploy a total of 650 satellites to start its satellite internet business and intends to launch more than 1,900 additional satellites in the long term. The U.S. IT company Amazon recently announced its plan to build a broadband internet network by launching 3,236 low Earth orbit satellites under the 'Project Kuiper.'

By the mid-2020s, more than 17,000 satellites will be operating in low Earth orbit alone. When squadrons of 50 to 60 satellites meet at similar altitudes, there is a risk of collision without time for evasive maneuvers.

There is also a possibility that debris generated by collisions between satellites in orbit will exponentially increase space junk around Earth's orbit. If this space debris circulates around Earth's orbit and crosses rocket launch paths, concerns have been raised that additional satellite launches and future space exploration could become impossible.

Experts suggest that international organizations responsible for regulating low Earth orbit satellite fleets should step in to establish guidelines to prevent light pollution and collision risks from satellite fleets.

The 'International Astronomical Union,' an association of holders of doctoral degrees in astronomy, stated in February in its declaration on 'The Impact of Large Satellite Constellations on Astronomical Observations' that "internationally agreed rules or guidelines are needed regarding satellite brightness, frequency bands, and other aspects of satellite clusters," emphasizing that "international space organizations such as the 'United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space' should continuously expand discussions on the impact of satellite clusters on celestial bodies and raise awareness about this issue."

They added, "For humanity to continuously observe and study space, the astronomy community and space industry must seek coexistence."