"A constellation of classified defense satellites built by the commercial company SpaceX is emitting a mysterious signal that may violate international standards, NPR has learned. Satellites associated with the "Starshield" satellite network appear to be transmitting to the Earth's surface on frequencies normally used for doing the exact opposite: sending commands from Earth to satellites in space. The use of those frequencies to "downlink" data runs counter to standards set by the International Telecommunication Union,"
"Starshield's unusual transmissions have the potential to interfere with other scientific and commercial satellites, warns Scott Tilley, an amateur satellite tracker in Canada who first spotted the signals. "Nearby satellites could receive radio-frequency interference and could perhaps not respond properly to commands or ignore commands from Earth," he told NPR. Outside experts agree there's the potential for radio interference. "I think it is definitely happening,""
Classified SpaceX-built defense satellites in the Starshield network are emitting signals that appear to use frequencies reserved for uplink (commands from Earth). Those satellites are transmitting to Earth's surface on bands normally used to send commands to satellites, which conflicts with International Telecommunication Union spectrum coordination standards. Amateur tracker Scott Tilley first detected the transmissions while scanning normally quiet bands. Experts warn the downlinks could cause radio-frequency interference with nearby scientific and commercial satellites and potentially impede their ability to receive or respond to commands. SpaceX and the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office did not respond to requests for comment. The extent of operational disruption remains unresolved.
Read at www.npr.org
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