Satellite megaconstellations could disrupt space-based astronomy
Posted: Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 9:43 AM ET (1443 GMT)
The growth of satellite constellations could impact space-based as well as ground-based astronomy. A study this week simulated the effects of proposed megaconstellations on current and planned astronomy spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit. It found that, if projections of as many as half a million spacecraft in low Earth orbit are realized by 2040, up to 40% of Hubble Space Telescope images may contain streaks from passing satellites, a figure that grows to 96% for NASA’s SPHEREx mission launched earlier this year. It is unlikely either Hubble or SPHEREx will be operating in 2040, though, and megaconstellations do not affect missions in higher orbits or locations like the Earth-sun L-2 point used by observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope.
The growth of satellite constellations could impact space-based as well as ground-based astronomy. A study this week simulated the effects of proposed megaconstellations on current and planned astronomy spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit. It found that, if projections of as many as half a million spacecraft in low Earth orbit are realized by 2040, up to 40% of Hubble Space Telescope images may contain streaks from passing satellites, a figure that grows to 96% for NASA’s SPHEREx mission launched earlier this year. It is unlikely either Hubble or SPHEREx will be operating in 2040, though, and megaconstellations do not affect missions in higher orbits or locations like the Earth-sun L-2 point used by observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope.
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