WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:07.719
<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Bedtime Astronomy. Explore the wonders of the cosmos

2
00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:12.279
<v Speaker 1>with our soothing Bedtime Astronomy podcast. Each episode offers a

3
00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:16.320
<v Speaker 1>gentle journey through the stars, planets, and beyond, perfect for

4
00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:20.239
<v Speaker 1>unwinding after a long day. Let's travel through the mysteries

5
00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:22.440
<v Speaker 1>of the universe as you drift off into a peaceful

6
00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:29.199
<v Speaker 1>slumber under the night sky. China's Thousand Sails joins the

7
00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:37.200
<v Speaker 1>satellite mega constellation boom. China's Thousand Sales join Starlink as

8
00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:41.840
<v Speaker 1>the latest mega satellite constellation in orbit, marking a significant

9
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:45.320
<v Speaker 1>step in the rapidly growing field of low Earth orbit

10
00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:52.679
<v Speaker 1>LEO satellite constellations. With the ever increasing number of satellites

11
00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:56.439
<v Speaker 1>crowding LEEO, it has become a familiar sight to see

12
00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:01.119
<v Speaker 1>strings of satellites streaking across the night sky, particularly from

13
00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:09.159
<v Speaker 1>SpaceX's Starlink constellation. These mega constellations, designed to provide global

14
00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:15.719
<v Speaker 1>Internet coverage and communication capabilities, are transforming the way we connect,

15
00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:21.480
<v Speaker 1>but they also present challenges, particularly for astronomers and skywatchers.

16
00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:27.959
<v Speaker 1>In recent years, the advent of these satellite trains, most

17
00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:32.200
<v Speaker 1>notably from Starlink, has not only spark discussions about the

18
00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:36.159
<v Speaker 1>impact on ground based astronomy, but has also contributed to

19
00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:39.519
<v Speaker 1>the rise of UFO reports as the unusual site of

20
00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:46.280
<v Speaker 1>rows of satellites prompts curiosity and confusion. With more agencies

21
00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:50.680
<v Speaker 1>and companies launching their own constellations, the skies are becoming

22
00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:57.159
<v Speaker 1>increasingly filled with artificial satellites. This trend is expected to

23
00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:01.599
<v Speaker 1>accelerate in twenty twenty four and beyond, with more satellite

24
00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:07.239
<v Speaker 1>launches planned. One of the significant concerns raised by the

25
00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:11.879
<v Speaker 1>astronomical community is the interference these satellites create for deep

26
00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:17.439
<v Speaker 1>sky observations. The bright streaks they leave in images can

27
00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:22.319
<v Speaker 1>ruin long exposure shots of distant celestial objects, and this

28
00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:27.159
<v Speaker 1>issue is particularly concerning for upcoming large scale sky surveys

29
00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:31.039
<v Speaker 1>such as the Verirubin Observatory, which is scheduled to see

30
00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:36.680
<v Speaker 1>its first light in twenty twenty five. This observatory will

31
00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:40.680
<v Speaker 1>conduct extensive sky surveys that could be compromised by the

32
00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:47.879
<v Speaker 1>presence of numerous satellites in lo SpaceX has taken steps

33
00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:52.439
<v Speaker 1>to address these concerns by implementing several mitigation measures for

34
00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:58.919
<v Speaker 1>its Starlink satellites. These measures include adding sun visors to

35
00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:03.960
<v Speaker 1>the first generation of satellites using diffuse dielectric mirrors on

36
00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.680
<v Speaker 1>the newer V two platforms and adjusting the angle of

37
00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:13.680
<v Speaker 1>the solar arrays to reduce their brightness. These modifications have

38
00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:17.719
<v Speaker 1>shown some success in reducing the visibility of the satellites

39
00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:20.960
<v Speaker 1>from the ground, with spotters noting that the newer V

40
00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.719
<v Speaker 1>two satellites have a fainter, bluish tint and are less

41
00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:29.039
<v Speaker 1>visible once they reach their designated orbits, with an average

42
00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:33.199
<v Speaker 1>magnitude of around plus seven, which aligns with the threshold

43
00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:38.280
<v Speaker 1>set by the National Science Foundation NSF and the International

44
00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:46.680
<v Speaker 1>Astronomical Union IAU. However, the proliferation of satellite constellations has

45
00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:53.439
<v Speaker 1>also introduced challenges in the radio frequency spectrum. Radio noise

46
00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:59.360
<v Speaker 1>generated by these satellites can interfere with astronomical observations, especially

47
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:05.639
<v Speaker 1>in the radio wavelengths. The Low Frequency Array Loafer in

48
00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:10.439
<v Speaker 1>the Netherlands, one of the world's leading radio observatories, has

49
00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:15.439
<v Speaker 1>detected significant radio emissions from the V two Mini Starlink satellites,

50
00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:19.560
<v Speaker 1>noting that they emit thirty two times more unintended radio

51
00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.879
<v Speaker 1>waves than their predecessors. This unintended radio interference is a

52
00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:30.839
<v Speaker 1>growing concern for astronomers who rely on sensitive radio telescopes

53
00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:36.759
<v Speaker 1>to study the universe. China's entrance into the field of

54
00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:41.519
<v Speaker 1>mega satellite constellations is marked by its Thousand Sales Initiative,

55
00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:49.920
<v Speaker 1>a project spearheaded by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology SSST. This

56
00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:54.079
<v Speaker 1>ambitious effort aims to launch one thousand, two hundred ninety

57
00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:58.519
<v Speaker 1>six satellites into orbit by twenty twenty seven, with plans

58
00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.839
<v Speaker 1>to expand a network to six was staggering twelve thousand

59
00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:07.279
<v Speaker 1>satellites by the twenty thirties. The first batch of eighteen

60
00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:11.040
<v Speaker 1>satellites was launched aboard a Long March sixth rocket from

61
00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:16.000
<v Speaker 1>the Thaiuan Satellite Launch Center, entering a polar Sun synchronous orbit.

62
00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:22.959
<v Speaker 1>This marchs China's answer to SpaceX's Starlink, and satellite spotters

63
00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:27.040
<v Speaker 1>quickly detected the train of satellites shortly after the launch.

64
00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:32.879
<v Speaker 1>In addition to the Thousand Sales Initiative, China has also

65
00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:40.079
<v Speaker 1>been working on other satellite constellations for various applications. For instance,

66
00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:45.000
<v Speaker 1>on September fifth, twenty twenty four, a Long March sixth

67
00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:48.920
<v Speaker 1>rocket launched ten satellites for the Jili Group aimed at

68
00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:55.319
<v Speaker 1>creating a communication network for autonomous vehicles. Another batch of

69
00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:59.279
<v Speaker 1>eighteen satellites for the thousand Sales initiative was launched in

70
00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:03.480
<v Speaker 1>mid October, further adding to the growing number of satellites

71
00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:09.040
<v Speaker 1>in LO. These satellites have been observed with an estimated

72
00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:12.759
<v Speaker 1>brightness of up to plus four magnitude when visible near

73
00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:18.759
<v Speaker 1>the zenith. Unlike SpaceX, which has made efforts to mitigate

74
00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:22.680
<v Speaker 1>the impact of its satellites on astronomy, China is not

75
00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:27.160
<v Speaker 1>bound by any international agreements or obligations to reduce the

76
00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:33.959
<v Speaker 1>visibility of its satellite constellations. As a result, the continued

77
00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:37.720
<v Speaker 1>expansion of satellite networks in l EO is likely to

78
00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:41.959
<v Speaker 1>have an increasingly profound impact on the night sky, raising

79
00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:46.720
<v Speaker 1>concerns about the future of astronomical observations and our ability

80
00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:52.639
<v Speaker 1>to study the Cosmos from Earth. The competition to launch

81
00:06:52.680 --> 00:07:00.199
<v Speaker 1>mega satellite constellations extends beyond China and SpaceX. Other companies

82
00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:03.720
<v Speaker 1>are also racing to establish their presence in l EO.

83
00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:11.040
<v Speaker 1>SpaceX has diversified its satellite deployments, launching not only Starlink

84
00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:17.800
<v Speaker 1>satellites but also platforms for other companies. For example, in

85
00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:23.160
<v Speaker 1>September twenty twenty four, SpaceX launched five Bluebird satellites for

86
00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:26.720
<v Speaker 1>ast Mobile, a follow up to the blue Walker three

87
00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:32.839
<v Speaker 1>test satellite. Blue Walker three, known for its massive ten

88
00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:36.680
<v Speaker 1>meter wide phased array antenna, has been observed to shine

89
00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:40.040
<v Speaker 1>as brightly as magnitude zero, making it one of the

90
00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:45.720
<v Speaker 1>brightest objects in the night sky. Ast Mobile plans to

91
00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:49.759
<v Speaker 1>deploy one hundred and ten Bluebird satellites in the coming years,

92
00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:54.759
<v Speaker 1>each potentially contributing to the growing brightness of the artificial sky.

93
00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:01.560
<v Speaker 1>One Web, another competitor in the satellite communitytion market, as

94
00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:06.920
<v Speaker 1>faced setbacks due to geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing Rush

95
00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:12.519
<v Speaker 1>Ukraine conflict. As a result, one web has had to

96
00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:16.759
<v Speaker 1>shift its launch strategy, relying on SpaceX to get its

97
00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:24.000
<v Speaker 1>satellites into orbit. Despite these challenges, one Web's satellite constellation

98
00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:28.519
<v Speaker 1>now includes six hundred and sixty satellites, close to its

99
00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:34.480
<v Speaker 1>initial target for providing global Internet coverage. The company has

100
00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:39.519
<v Speaker 1>already begun offering services through providers like Huesenet and bias At,

101
00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:47.440
<v Speaker 1>further increasing the number of satellites in operation. SpaceX's Starlink

102
00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:52.000
<v Speaker 1>remains the largest constellation in orbit, with over seven thousand

103
00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:58.120
<v Speaker 1>satellites currently in operation. The company continues to launch new

104
00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:02.120
<v Speaker 1>satellites at a rapid pace, with plans to deploy twelve

105
00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:06.000
<v Speaker 1>thousand satellites in the near future and potentially expand to

106
00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:09.840
<v Speaker 1>a total of thirty four four hundred satellites in the

107
00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:15.919
<v Speaker 1>coming years. This exponential growth in satellite numbers has led

108
00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.960
<v Speaker 1>to concerns about the long term sustainability of LOO and

109
00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:25.320
<v Speaker 1>the potential for increased satellite collisions and debris generation Melans

110
00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:31.080
<v Speaker 1>the Kessler syndrome. In addition to commercial ventures, governments are

111
00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:37.440
<v Speaker 1>also getting involved in the deployment of satellite constellations. Bu

112
00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:45.279
<v Speaker 1>s Department of Defense DoD has launched its own satellite constellation,

113
00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:51.039
<v Speaker 1>melan As Starshield, which currently includes seventy three satellites in orbit,

114
00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:57.720
<v Speaker 1>with plans to expand to over one hundred satellites as expected.

115
00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:02.240
<v Speaker 1>The DoD has become one of the largest customers of SpaceX,

116
00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:09.960
<v Speaker 1>leveraging the starlink infrastructure for military applications. The rapid expansion

117
00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.440
<v Speaker 1>of satellite constellations has also fueled interest in tracking and

118
00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:21.000
<v Speaker 1>observing these objects from the ground. Amateur astronomers and satellite

119
00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:25.480
<v Speaker 1>trackers have become increasingly engaged in documenting the movements of

120
00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:30.240
<v Speaker 1>these constellations, particularly as they grow in size and brightness.

121
00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:37.639
<v Speaker 1>For example, ACS three the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System,

122
00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:42.039
<v Speaker 1>a solar sail satellite launched by rocket Lab in April

123
00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:46.240
<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty four, has become a popular target for observers.

124
00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:52.759
<v Speaker 1>The satellite solar sail reflects sunlight, making it visible as

125
00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:55.519
<v Speaker 1>a bright object in the night sky, and it has

126
00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.960
<v Speaker 1>been observed to flare up to magnitude zero on certain

127
00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:07.200
<v Speaker 1>passes looking ahead. The continued growth of megasatellite constellations presents

128
00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:13.639
<v Speaker 1>both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, these networks

129
00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:18.679
<v Speaker 1>promise to provide global Internet coverage, connect remote regions, and

130
00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:25.360
<v Speaker 1>support various communication and scientific endeavors. On the other hand,

131
00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:31.039
<v Speaker 1>they pose significant risks to ground based astronomy, radio observations

132
00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:36.159
<v Speaker 1>and the overall esthetic of the night sky. As the

133
00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:40.000
<v Speaker 1>number of satellites in l EO continues to rise, it

134
00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:44.240
<v Speaker 1>will be essential for the global community to establish regulations

135
00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:47.879
<v Speaker 1>and standards to ensure the responsible use of space and

136
00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:51.240
<v Speaker 1>the preservation of the night sky as a shared resource.

137
00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:59.000
<v Speaker 1>In conclusion, China's thousand Sales initiative represents a significant milestone

138
00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:03.399
<v Speaker 1>in the development of l eeo's satellite constellations, joining the

139
00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:09.360
<v Speaker 1>ranks of Starlink and other ambitious projects. As the skies

140
00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:14.679
<v Speaker 1>above Earth become increasingly populated with artificial satellites, the need

141
00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:18.879
<v Speaker 1>for careful management and mitigation of their impacts on astronomy

142
00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:24.960
<v Speaker 1>and space exploration becomes more pressing. Whether we are entering

143
00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:29.519
<v Speaker 1>an era of unprecedented connectivity or sacrificing the beauty and

144
00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.799
<v Speaker 1>clarity of the night sky remains to be seen, but

145
00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:35.720
<v Speaker 1>one thing is certain. The race to fill l e

146
00:12:35.840 --> 00:13:43.720
<v Speaker 1>O with satellites is far from over. To do as

147
00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:07.240
<v Speaker 1>before n