Potential Disruption to NASA, ESA, and Commercial Systems
Experts warn that the implications go beyond astronomy. Kevin Gifford, a computer-science professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, told NPR that the Starshield downlinks are “definitely happening,” though the scale of disruption remains uncertain. Tilley cautioned that “nearby satellites could receive radio-frequency interference and perhaps not respond properly to commands — or ignore commands — from Earth.”
The frequency band Starshield is using overlaps with the operational windows of several scientific and commercial satellites. Earth-observation systems operated by NASA and the European Space Agency could experience corrupted telemetry or loss of data integrity if interference occurs near their control frequencies. Commercial operators, particularly those managing imaging or communications satellites, may face elevated background noise or delayed signal relay.
If other spacecraft are forced to adjust their operations or temporarily suspend transmissions, this would not only affect research missions but also global commercial services dependent on satellite communications.
