All posts by Benjamin Winkel

Electromagnetic leakage from Starlink satellites detected with European LOFAR radio telescope

In collaboration with SKAO’s lead spectrum manager Federico Di Vruno and ASTRON’s Cees Bassa, CRAF members conducted an observing campaign with the Dutch low-frequency radio telescope LOFAR. The aim was to measure, how much unintended electromagnetic radiation (UEMR) would be leaked from satellite onboard electronics and electrics.

The authors of the newly published paper were indeed successful, as they detected narrow- and broadband features associated with Starlink satellites. The intensity of the UEMR could be high enough to seriously disturb LOFAR measurements in the radio astronomy frequency band at 150 MHz, but further studies are required.

Further information can be found in various press releases, by the IAU CPS and the ESF.