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Using just 99 satellites equipped with lasers and microwaves, Chinese researchers simulated the tracking of 1.400 Starlink satellites in 12 hours, demonstrating an innovative approach inspired by nature and pushing the limits of space technology.
Space is getting busier and busier, like a highway at rush hour. That’s exactly what’s happening with satellite constellations like Elon Musk’s Starlink from SpaceX. But what’s surprising recently is the innovative method that Chinese scientists have created to track these satellites in orbit. Let’s take a closer look at how they did it and what it means for the future of space security.
The Starlink constellation: The giant in space
Starlink is one of the largest satellite projects ever created. Launched by Elon Musk's company SpaceX, it has already placed more than 6.700 satellites into orbit. The goal? To bring high-speed internet to the entire world, including remote regions. But beyond connecting people, This constellation has raised concerns on the global stage.
Why? The answer lies in the impact it can have on military and security issues. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, for example, the use of Starlink satellites was crucial to maintaining strategic communications. This has led many countries, including China, to step up their efforts to monitor this technology.
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The Challenge: Monitoring Starlink Satellites
Imagine trying to track thousands of cars on a highway without GPS. That’s how complex it is to track Starlink satellites. Each one is constantly moving, requiring extremely precise orbital calculations. The sheer number of satellites makes tracking even more difficult.
However, the militarization of space has forced countries to seek creative solutions. As highlighted by the team led by Wu Yunhua of the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, understanding how these constellations work is essential for national security. The Chinese simulation showed that this is possible, but not without challenges.
The innovative Chinese approach
What do whales have to do with satellites? Quite a lot, actually. Inspired by the way these mammals track prey, Chinese scientists developed a method to monitor the Starlink constellation. Using just 99 satellites, they were able to virtually “hunt” around 1.400 Starlink satellites in just 12 hours.
This innovative approach involves technologies such as lasers and microwaves for recognition and tracking. But don’t think it’s as simple as it sounds. These devices consume a lot of energy, and the Chinese satellites needed a specific amount of time to recharge their batteries using solar power.
Promising simulation results
The simulation was a success and showed that it is possible to track Starlink satellites with a limited number of resources. The Chinese scientists managed to keep the target satellites within range for at least 10 seconds, enough to carry out monitoring operations.
Still, the mission was not without its hurdles. Maneuvering the satellites in real time and avoiding collisions required complex calculations. The challenge of balancing power consumption and solar recharge time made the process even more complicated.
With the race for satellite constellations, space is becoming a new arena for geopolitical disputes. Monitoring these networks is crucial to ensuring that they are used peacefully. However, also raises questions about regulation international. Who should have the right to monitor or even interfere in these constellations?
China will soon be number one
Seriously, China has revolutionized!!! There is no intention and never has been to hide satellites, especially those in low orbit, where even the naked eye can see these satellites in the darkness of the night! Another thing, these satellites emit a constant signal in the form of low-band microwaves that in themselves are perfectly identifiable by any spectral phase detector. So I believe that Starlink, which does not even have a registered patent on this system, does not care much that the Chinese, Russians, Iranians or any other nation is tracking its satellites.
False news. This was already being done by several countries, including the USA itself.