Scientists are planning to darken the satellites' bodies so they reflect less light into the night sky, helping to preserve our view of space. (Image credit: Anton Petrus via Getty Images)
A satellite coated in one of the darkest materials ever created by man, known as 'Vantablack', will be sent into space next year to help scientists solve a major problem troubling astronomers around the world.
There are currently more than 14,900 satellites orbiting the Earth. However, experts predict that within the next 50 years, that number of active spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) could grow to more than 100,000. This dramatic growth has been made possible by private satellite “mega-constellations” like SpaceX’s Starlink network, which already accounts for more than 60% of the total number of spacecraft orbiting our planet. These devices cause a number of problems that scientists are only beginning to fully understand, including uncontrolled re-entries, interference with radio signals, and light pollution.
For years, astronomers have warned that sunlight reflecting off the many shiny metallic satellites would brighten the night sky, making it difficult to study space. The problem has already affected most optical observatories, which are constantly bombarded by satellites flying overhead. The situation is expected to get worse with new spacecraft, such as China's Thousand Sails, which far exceed the brightness limits proposed by astronomical authorities.
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