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An intriguing discovery by an amateur satellite tracker has brought to light that a subset of SpaceX’s classified Starshield satellites is transmitting data on an unexpected radio frequency. This revelation points to a potential deviation from international telecommunication standards, raising questions about spectrum usage.
The unusual signals were first detected by Canadian satellite hobbyist, Scott Tilley. While engaging in his routine of monitoring satellites from home, Tilley inadvertently configured his system to scan frequencies typically devoid of traffic. To his astonishment, he picked up a distinct signal originating from space within the 2025-2110 MHz band. This particular spectrum is internationally designated for satellite uplinks, meaning it’s where ground stations send data to satellites, not where satellites broadcast data back to Earth.
Tilley recounted the moment of discovery to NPR: “It was just a clumsy move at the keyboard. I was resetting some stuff and then all of a sudden I’m looking at the wrong antenna, the wrong band.” Recognizing the anomaly, he recorded the transmissions. Comparing his findings with amateur satellite tracking databases, Tilley quickly identified the source: Starshield, SpaceX’s secretive satellite constellation.
Starshield serves primarily the U.S. military, facilitating Earth observation and secure communications. Operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), this network currently comprises over 200 satellites. Tilley’s observations indicate that approximately 170 Starshield satellites are responsible for these off-spectrum transmissions, all within the identical frequency range.
Potential for Interference
The 2025 to 2110 MHz spectrum is purposefully kept quiet as per the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regulations, reserving it for intermittent uplink bursts. SpaceX’s continuous use of this frequency to transmit data back to Earth (a downlink activity) introduces a significant concern: the potential for interference. Such activity could disrupt other satellites—whether commercial, scientific, or military—operating nearby, potentially rendering them unresponsive to commands.
Commenting on the company’s approach, Tilley suggested, “SpaceX is smart and savvy,” implying they might have opted to “do it and ask forgiveness later.” While no official complaints from other satellite operators have been reported so far, indicating no widespread disruption to date, the possibility of future issues remains.
To ensure global awareness among satellite operators, Tilley proactively published his comprehensive findings on the open-access research repository, Zenodo.org. This move underscores the importance of transparent communication regarding spectrum usage, especially in an increasingly crowded orbital environment.