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Bright unintended electromagnetic radiation from second-generation Starlink satellites

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arxiv 2409.11767 v1 pith:JDRFYWCC submitted 2024-09-18 astro-ph.IM

Bright unintended electromagnetic radiation from second-generation Starlink satellites

C.G. Bassa , F. Di Vruno , B. Winkel , G.I.G. Jozsa , M.A. Brentjens , X. Zhang This is my paper
classification astro-ph.IM
keywords uemrsatellitessatellitestarlinkdetectedelectromagneticfrequencysecond-generation
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal T4 reserved
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We report on the detection of unintended electromagnetic radiation (UEMR) from the second-generation of Starlink satellites. Observations with the LOFAR radio telescope between 10 to 88MHz and 110 to 188MHz show broadband emission covering the frequency ranges from 40 to 70MHz and 110 to 188MHz from the v2-Mini and v2-Mini Direct-to-Cell Starlink satellites. The spectral power flux density of this broadband UEMR varies from satellite to satellite, with values ranging from 15Jy to 1300Jy, between 56 and 66MHz, and from 2 to 100Jy over two distinct 8MHz frequency ranges centered at 120 and 161MHz. We compared the detected power flux densities of this UEMR to that emitted by the first generation v1.0 and v1.5 Starlink satellites. When correcting for the observed satellite distances, we find that the second-generation satellites emit UEMR that is up to a factor of 32 stronger compared to the first generation. The calculated electric field strengths of the detected UEMR exceed typical electromagnetic compatibility standards used for commercial electronic devices as well as recommended emission thresholds from the Radiocommunication Sector of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R) aimed at protecting the 150.05-153MHz frequency range allocated to radio astronomy. We characterize the properties of the detected UEMR with the aim of assisting the satellite operator with the identification of the cause of the UEMR.

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Cited by 3 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. A reversed solar illumination dependence of unintended emission from Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellites at 72-234 MHz with the EDA2

    eess.SP 2026-05 conditional novelty 7.0

    Starlink DTC satellites show reversed solar illumination dependence in unintended emissions at 72-234 MHz, brighter in eclipse than sunlight unlike Ku-only satellites, pointing to an active on-board source.

  2. Modelling Radio Frequency Interference on the Lunar Farside

    astro-ph.IM 2026-07 conditional novelty 6.0

    Planned lunar satellites will increasingly contaminate the farside radio band; under this model, ≥30 dB uniform UEMR shielding is required to keep peak RFI below LFT3-like sensitivity.

  3. The Lunar Farside Transients and Technology Telescope (LFT3) Mission

    astro-ph.IM 2026-07 conditional novelty 4.0

    Proposes a $150M-class lunar farside radio telescope (LFT3) to survey 0.1–2700 MHz in the RFI-pristine shielded zone before lunar-orbital interference closes the window.