Mystery Chinese Satellite Network Is Already Impacting Earth
Light pollution from sources on the surface of the Earth are major obstructions for layperson astronomers and stargazers who are unable to see past the glow of streetlights, lit high-rises, and other sources of illumination. But China’s expansive satellite system is proving that human-made light pollution is just as capable of ruining observations from their position well into the planet’s orbit. The Asian nation’s Qianfan program has orbiting bodies that glow so brightly that they are beginning to interfere with nighttime observations.
The Chinese satellite program in question was launched in August and represents the first of many more that will be launched into the sky over the next several years. Known in English as “Thousand Sails,” Qianfan was conceived to be a “mega constellation” of satellites that will serve China as part of a vast communication network. The small spacecraft were constructed by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, and is reported to be the Far East’s answer to the United States-based SpaceX Starlink satellites.
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