[Onkel Neal]

https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesm...fAYz5p10j-0BSE

SpaceX: Starlink DarkSat shows 'a notable reduction' in brightness

Astronomers have been vocal about Starlink satellites appearing too bright in the night sky. Many worried that the constellation could interfere with their astronomical observations. Starlink is launched in clusters of 60 satellites per mission, they are especially bright soon after launch, visible in train-like formations when flying at lower altitudes before reaching a higher, operational orbit (pictured below). SpaceX officials said the satellites' reflectivity was a surprise and that engineers are actively working on a solution to decrease Starlink satellites' brightness. "We certainly knew this was a novel spacecraft design in a novel architecture, but the level of brightness and visibility was a surprise to us," said Patricia Cooper, Vice President of satellite government affairs at SpaceX, who represented the company at the a American Astronomical Society meeting this year.

The founder of SpaceX Elon Musk, shared that engineers are in the process of developing a "sunshade." The satellite "sunshade" would deploy like an umbrella to cover the satellite in order to reduce its visibility from Earth. Anderson shared that the experimental Starlink satellite with the "sunshade" will be tested on a future mission.

Musk stated he does not believe Starlink would have a negative effect on astronomy. "I am confident that we not cause any impact whatsoever in astronomical discoveries," he said. "Zero. That’s my prediction. We will take corrective action if it’s above zero."