A recent study led by NASA indicates that the growing number of satellites in low-Earth orbit could severely impact the quality of images captured by space telescopes and observatories. Researchers warn that up to 96% of images from some telescopes may be compromised due to satellite interference.

Dr. Alejandro Serrano Borlaff, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center and co-author of the study, emphasized the urgency of the situation. "The urgency starts in the moment we’re seeing a very rapid increase in the number of satellite constellations, in particular, not the satellites that have been launched, but in the satellites that are being proposed," he said. He stressed the need to assess the potential consequences for telescopes before these satellites become operational.

Satellites reflect sunlight, Earthshine, infrared, and radio waves, creating bright streaks that can obscure cosmic images. These streaks, known as satellite trails, are not visible to the naked eye but can significantly affect observations. The study revealed that nearly one-third of Hubble Space Telescope's exposures would be contaminated by these trails.

To gauge the extent of the issue, researchers simulated about 18 months of telescope observations, assuming a future scenario with 560,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit. Under these conditions, they found that satellite streaks could interfere with 40% to over 96% of images taken by major observatories. The number of satellites in low-Earth orbit has surged from approximately 2,000 in 2019 to an estimated 15,000 by 2025.

Borlaff noted, "As we launch more satellites to space, the room for telescopes, and astronomy in general, gets narrower and narrower." The study found that three out of four telescopes examined could experience up to 96% disruption in their images due to satellite trails. This includes NASA’s SPHEREx, which launched in March, as well as China’s upcoming Xuntian observatory and ESA’s ARRAKHIS mission, both yet to be launched.

The findings underscore a growing conflict between the expansion of satellite networks and the ability of space telescopes to conduct astronomical research. "We need to figure out a way to coexist," Borlaff stated.

A common misconception is that scientists can simply remove satellite trails from images. Borlaff clarified, "Sure, you can do that, but anytime you change an image, in this case to remove a satellite trail, the information under those pixels is forever lost." In a more congested low-Earth orbit, this lost information accumulates, and some of it may never be recoverable.

Alternative solutions have significant drawbacks. For instance, pointing telescopes vertically can help avoid some satellite traffic, but this approach may lead to missed targets or strain the instruments. Additionally, redesigning the space ecosystem by relocating satellites to higher orbits or moving telescopes farther out poses financial and operational risks, exposing observatories to harsher radiation.