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Surging Satellite Constellations Could Streak Up To 96% Of Space Telescope Images

12:40 AM, 12/06/2025
Surging Satellite Constellations Could Streak Up To 96% Of Space Telescope Images

Simulations indicate that planned satellite megaconstellations could leave streaks on 40–96% of images from some low-Earth-orbit space telescopes, with up to 92 streaks in a single exposure. The study modeled Hubble, SPHEREx, China’s Xuntian, and the EU’s ARRAKIHS mission and was published in Nature. Researchers warn that widespread streaking could degrade image quality, hamper discoveries, and make it harder to spot hazardous asteroids, while launches and reentries may also be injecting pollutants into many atmospheric layers.

Growing Satellite Fleets Threaten Space Telescope Photography

New simulations show that a major expansion of satellite constellations could severely contaminate images taken by space-based observatories. Researchers modeled views from four low-Earth-orbit telescopes — NASA’s Hubble and SPHEREx, China’s planned Xuntian space telescope, and the European ARRAKIHS mission — and found that passing satellites could leave visible streaks on a large share of exposures.

About a decade ago there were roughly 1,200 active satellites in orbit; today that number is near 12,000, and researchers report plans for roughly 560,000 additional satellites. Using this projected density, the team found that streaks could affect between 40% and 96% of images, depending on the telescope and observing parameters, with up to 92 streaks appearing in a single exposure. The results were published in Nature.

Scientific Consequences

Scientists warn that pervasive streaking would degrade image quality, reduce the rate of new discoveries, and complicate searches for fast-moving or faint objects such as potentially hazardous asteroids. As lead author Alejandro Borlaff of NASA Ames described in Nature, "If your images look like they're filled with asteroids, it's very possible that you'll miss a real one."

Environmental and Atmospheric Concerns

Beyond visual interference, experts are raising concerns about emissions tied to the satellite boom. Rocket launches and payloads burning up on reentry release gases and particles into multiple layers of the atmosphere. As Eloise Marais, an atmospheric scientist at University College London, told Yale Environment 360, these processes are depositing pollutants across nearly every atmospheric layer, with potential climate and air-quality consequences.

What Can Be Done?

While not every proposed satellite will necessarily be launched, researchers and industry are already discussing mitigation strategies. Potential approaches include improved satellite surface treatments to reduce reflectivity, coordinated orbital planning to lower collision risk and concentration, active tracking and image-processing techniques to remove streak artifacts, and stronger regulatory coordination between operators and observatories. Each mitigation has limits and costs, so early engagement between scientists, regulators, and companies will be critical.

Key takeaway: Without effective mitigation and coordinated policy, rapidly expanding satellite megaconstellations risk significantly impairing space-based astronomy and adding new environmental stresses to the atmosphere.

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