The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope is currently under construction in a radio-quiet zone in Western Australia’s outback. As the number of satellites in Earth’s orbit continues to increase, scientists are facing new challenges in listening for faint radio signals from the universe. With the growing density of satellites, the ground and space above need to be quiet for radio astronomers to detect and interpret faint radio signals effectively.
The SKA Observatory, responsible for building the two radio telescope arrays in Australia and South Africa, is working towards operationalizing the telescope by 2030. By that time, it is estimated that there could be up to 100,000 satellites orbiting Earth, emitting both intentional and unintentional radio noise. This poses a significant hurdle for astronomers trying to study the birth of stars and galaxies.
Federico Di Vruno, the spectrum manager for SKAO, highlighted the impact of satellite interference on radio astronomers. The loud radio noise from passing satellites can blind researchers trying to listen for faint signals, likening it to shining a flashlight in a dark room. Companies like Amazon and SpaceX are planning to launch tens of thousands of satellites in the near future, further adding to the challenge of satellite interference.
Dr. Chris De Pree from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the US emphasized the struggle of listening for whispers amidst the satellites’ overwhelming radio signals. The interference has reached a point where some scientists are considering the moon as a potential radio astronomy location due to its protection from Earth’s emissions.
Despite the challenges posed by satellite interference, scientists remain optimistic about the SKA’s capabilities. Dr. David Gozzard from the University of Western Australia mentioned that astronomers are constantly evolving their techniques to filter out noise created by satellites. The SKA Observatory aims to build a telescope that will last 50 years and capitalize on the short lifespan of low orbit satellites to revise technologies and reduce satellite noise.
As the SKA project progresses, collaborations with satellite companies and ongoing research into mitigating satellite interference will be crucial to ensure the success of the world’s largest radio telescope. While the challenges are significant, the promise of groundbreaking scientific discoveries and a deeper understanding of the universe motivates astronomers to overcome these obstacles.
