In a Monday statement, the International Astronomical Union Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (IAU) said that the AST SpaceMobile BlueWalker 3 prototype satellite is now one of the brightest objects in the night sky – outshining all but the brightest stars. .
In addition, the scientists warned that the use of terrestrial radio frequencies poses a "new challenge to radio astronomy.".
"BlueWalker 3 is a big shift in the constellation satellite issue and should give us all reason to pause," Piero Benvenuti, the director of the IAU CPS, said in a statement.
"These orbiting transmitters, which are not subject to the same radio quiet zone restrictions as ground-based cellular networks, have the potential to severely impact radio astronomy research as well as geodesy studies and space-physics experiments," the IAU said, noting that it had recently penned a letter to the Federal Communications Commission calling on it to seriously consider the potential impacts of satellite constellations on astronomy, the appearance of the night sky and the environment.
AST SpaceMobile said that BW3 is the largest-ever commercial communications array deployed in low Earth orbit
We are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network — one that is designed to provide coverage to areas currently beyond the reach of today's networks
We are also engaged with NASA and certain working groups within the astronomy community to participate in advanced industry solutions, including potential operational interventions," it said
"As part of this work, AST SpaceMobile is committed to avoiding broadcasts inside or adjacent to the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) in the U.S
AST SpaceMobile plans to provide substantial coverage across the world with a network of 168 or fewer satellites
UK
Australia
France
Germany
Russia
India
Canada