At least 170 Starshield satellitesdeveloped by SpaceXthey are broadcasting in a direction that does not belong. has detected it Scott Tilleythe researcher known for having located a lost satellite of the POT. The Starshield satellites, operated by the National Recognition Office (NRO) of the US, could interfere with ground stations and affect government communications, television services and telecommunications systems. It is unknown whether these emissions are deliberate or an error.
Tilley, an engineering technologist and amateur radio astronomer in British Columbia, has found that satellites They broadcast signals over Canada, the United States and Mexico within the 2025–2110 MHz band.without formal coordination of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). That band is reserved primarily for ascending communications with ships in orbit. If a satellite sends a downstream signal in that band, it can cause interference.
Starshield satellites are a government and classified use variant based on Starlink technologydeveloped by SpaceX for US defense and intelligence agencies. Unlike SpaceX’s commercial use network, Starshield incorporates tailored payloads, end-to-end secure communications, military-grade encryption and the ability to integrate into sensitive observation, intelligence and tactical communications missions. Its modular design allows you to add sensors, laser links and specific functions according to the needs of organizations such as the NRO or the Department of Defense.
According to sources consulted by Ars Technica, the NRO likely coordinated with SpaceX and operators to ensure its satellites did not interfere with domestic signals. Even so, it is not known if similar agreements were made with other governments or international organizations. In any case, it needs to be investigated, says Tilley.
‘The apparent downward use of a band allocated to upward communications, if confirmed by authorities, requires immediate technical and regulatory review to assess interference risk and ensure compliance‘ of international regulations, he states in the report he has produced.
The reason for these signals also deserves further investigation. Rick Reasera consultant for the technology media IEE Spectrum, assures Ars Technica that the signals They would only be detected if they are actively searched and an antenna is pointed directly at the Starshield satellites. Any uncoordinated use of the radio spectrum increases the risk of damaging projects that are not coordinated with each other.
‘It is being used in the wrong direction; If the signal arrives in the downlink, it should be in the uplink,’ he says. Regarding its purpose, it indicates that ‘it could be for communication, or for anything else’.
‘A cooperative outreachwithout compromising legitimate security interests, will be essential to balance national capacity with the shared responsibility to preserve an orderly and predictable radio environment‘ says Tilley.
Although he also concludes that he does not know what these signs are for, he suggests that it could be a deliberate attempt to cover the entire frequency band.
‘While it is not suggested that the system was designed for that purpose, the combination of broadband data channels and constant, continuous signals in a global or even regional distributed network represents a practical basis for such use, whether by friendly forces in contested environments or by third parties seeking situational awareness‘ Tilley notes in the report.