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Study: Satellite Trails Threaten One-Third of Hubble Images

12/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A new study finds satellite trails could contaminate one in three images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
There are about 15,000 satellites currently in orbit, with SpaceX's Starlink making up more than half.
If all proposed satellites launch, up to 560,000 could surround the planet by the 2030s.
Experts warn this interference risks irreversible loss of scientific data, prompting calls for a multidisciplinary mitigation effort.

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Story summary

A new study finds satellite trails could contaminate one in three images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
There are about 15,000 satellites currently in orbit, with SpaceX's Starlink making up more than half.
If all proposed satellites launch, up to 560,000 could surround the planet by the 2030s.
Experts warn this interference risks irreversible loss of scientific data, prompting calls for a multidisciplinary mitigation effort.