SpaceX's new Starlink satellites are so radio noisy that they could blind radio astronomy observatories to the universe's most intriguing phenomena, scientists say.

This problem is only getting worse as SpaceX, the company behind Starlink, continues to launch dozens of new satellites each week. The unintended emissions from these satellites may even exceed international limits for interference, which could have serious implications for future radio astronomy.

An international team of astronomers reported in a study Wednesday that the second generation model of Starlink satellites is hampering radio astronomy, which is essential for the study of the non-visible universe,

The excess radio emissions from Starlink satellites threatens to hinder observations through radio telescopes, astronomers in Europe say.

Satellite swarms orbiting the Earth are leaking more radiation into protected wavelength bands than ever. In fact, the second generation of Starlink satellites – known as the v2mini and v2mini Direct-to-Cell versions – are leaking up to 32 times more radiation than their predecessor.

V2 sats beam 10M times brighter noise, hampering telescopes The second generation of Starlink satellites being lobbed into orbit by SpaceX might not reflect as much sunlight as the old ones, yet astronomers say they're leaking up to 32 times the unintended radio waves instead.