The BlueWalker 3, an enormous next-generation communications satellite tv for pc, has garnered consideration for changing into one of many brightest objects within the night time sky, elevating considerations about mild air pollution, in keeping with analysis published in the journal Nature.
It’s noteworthy for its functionality to successfully rework common smartphones into satellite tv for pc telephones, nonetheless, its brightness raises considerations concerning the potential for newer, bigger satellites to considerably contribute to mild air pollution, probably disrupting astronomical observations and impacting each wildlife and cultural traditions.
Researchers, together with Jeremy Tregloan-Reed, an astronomer and assistant professor on the Universidad de Atacama in Chile, concern that the proliferation of mega-constellations of web satellites, like BlueWalker 3, might alter the night time sky considerably.
BlueWalker 3 is now the brightest satellite tv for pc in low Earth orbit, comparable in brightness to the eighth brightest star seen from Earth, Procyon. Solely the Moon, Jupiter, Venus, and 7 stars outshine it, in keeping with observations from astronomers in varied international locations.
The BlueWalker 3 take a look at satellite tv for pc by AST SpaceMobile boasts a dimension of 693 sq. ft and is engineered to harness space-based energy whereas offering direct mobile broadband to your cellular gadget. (Picture: AST SpaceMobile)
The bigger a satellite tv for pc is, the brighter it seems as a result of its elevated floor space for reflecting daylight. BlueWalker 3’s immense dimension, with a 64-square-meter (693 sq. ft) array, contributes to its distinctive brightness. It presently stands as the biggest business communications array in low Earth orbit, though it serves as a prototype for even bigger satellites being developed by AST SpaceMobile, backed by AT&T.
The brighter night time sky attributable to such satellites can pose challenges for astronomical observations, impeding the visibility of stars, nebulas, and celestial particulars. It may possibly additionally disrupt wildlife, particularly birds that navigate by starlight. Moreover, the lack of a transparent, starry sky has cultural and religious significance.
BlueWalker 3 is neatly folded and encased inside a spaceflight container often called the Launch Car Adapter, represented by a black cylinder.
BlueWalker 3 beforehand made headlines by enabling audio calls between unmodified smartphones in a distant a part of Chile, highlighting its potential to enhance world web entry and communication.
Tregloan-Reed hopes that this analysis will encourage the satellite tv for pc business to think about designs that decrease mild air pollution. Future laws might even require an evaluation of a satellite tv for pc’s impression on the night time sky as a part of the authorization course of earlier than launch, addressing considerations concerning the rising downside of sunshine air pollution.
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