Radio waves from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites are increasingly interfering with astronomical research, according to scientists from the Netherlands. Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) have raised concerns that the latest generation of Starlink satellites is causing greater interference with radio telescopes than earlier models. These satellites, part of SpaceX's global internet network, are obstructing scientists’ ability to study the universe by "blinding" their instruments.

The satellites, which provide fast internet service to remote regions globally—including places like Ukraine and Yemen—are hindering crucial space research. According to Professor Jessica Dempsey, director of ASTRON, the radio emissions from the newer V2 satellites are much stronger, limiting scientists’ ability to observe distant cosmic phenomena such as black holes, early galaxies, and exoplanets.

ASTRON discovered that the interference caused by these newer V2 satellites is 32 times stronger than that from the earlier generation, with one researcher comparing the impact to the difference between "the faintest stars visible to the naked eye and the brightness of the full moon." SpaceX is launching roughly 40 of these second-generation satellites weekly, which is exacerbating the problem.

Robert Massey, Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, calling for rapid solutions to prevent lasting damage to radio observatories. He noted that while the benefits of some astronomy research may not be immediately clear, the long-term significance could be profound.

In addition to radio interference, scientists are also worried about the light pollution from these satellites, which may be affecting optical telescopes. They had previously raised concerns with SpaceX about radiation from the first-generation satellites, and the company had been responsive, but the new V2 satellites have proven to be even more problematic.

ASTRON researchers are advocating for stricter regulation of space activity, urging SpaceX to take steps like shielding satellite batteries to reduce radiation. Without proper mitigation, ground-based astronomy could face an existential threat, according to Prof. Dempsey, who warned that future views of the sky may be dominated by human-made objects rather than natural celestial bodies.