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A groundbreaking solution has been developed to address the growing challenge of radio interference from satellite constellations on sensitive radio astronomy observations. Researchers from the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), in collaboration with SpaceX, have introduced the Operational Data Sharing (ODS) system, a self-reporting framework designed to foster coexistence between radio telescopes and non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations, such as SpaceX’s Starlink.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) NGSO satellite constellations are revolutionizing global internet access, bringing connectivity to remote areas. However, these satellites transmit signals that can interfere with the sensitive operations of radio telescopes, which are highly susceptible to Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) from a variety of modern technology. With the number of LEO NGSO satellites expected to increase tenfold in the coming decade, ensuring that scientific discoveries are not compromised has become a pressing issue.
The ODS system enables near real-time communication between radio observatories and participating satellite operators. By sharing telescope operational data through a secure database, satellites can dynamically adjust their transmissions to minimize interference.
A key innovation within this system is SpaceX’s Telescope Boresight Avoidance (TBA) technique, which allows satellites equipped with phased array antennas to redirect their beams away from telescopes when they are within a certain proximity, and also temporarily disable transmissions if they pass directly through a telescope’s line of sight.
Preliminary experiments conducted with SpaceX’s Starlink satellites have demonstrated a significant reduction in interference during observations by the NSF Very Large Array (NSF VLA) in New Mexico. Since its implementation in 2024 at the NSF VLA, the ODS system has proven effective in avoiding interference in critical frequency bands used by the telescopes. SpaceX has already integrated this system into its satellite operations, and other observatories worldwide, including facilities in Australia and California, are beginning to adopt the framework. “Open and frequent communication between SpaceX and NRAO scientists has been critical in the development of this system”, said Chris De Pree, Assistant Director for Spectrum Management at NRAO. “No approach can solve all problems, but ODS is an important step in solving this growing challenge.”
The NSF NRAO plans to expand ODS coverage to additional facilities, such as the NSF Green Bank Telescope (NSF GBT), the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope, and the NSF Very Long Baseline Array (NSF VLBA), a crucial tool in U.S. GPS operations. This scalable system could eventually serve as a universal platform for spectrum sharing between observatories, Earth-monitoring satellites and satellite operators globally.
This collaboration highlights how innovative solutions can balance technological progress with scientific discovery. “The ODS system demonstrates that cooperation between industries can yield win-win outcomes,” said Bang Nhan, NSF NRAO scientist, and lead author of a new paper published about this research. “We’re excited about the potential for this framework to become a global standard for spectrum coexistence.”
As satellite networks continue to grow, systems like ODS will be essential for ensuring that humanity’s quest for knowledge—whether through better connectivity or deeper exploration of the universe—remains uninterrupted. The NSF and the NSF NRAO are looking forward to collaborating with other providers of satellite communications to ensure the shared use of spectrum and the continued protection of astronomical research.
Learn more about spectrum management by the NSF NRAO.
About NRAO
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Green Bank Observatory (GBO) are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
The ODS system was developed by NRAO with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s SII NRDZ: Dynamic Protection and Spectrum Monitoring for Radio Observatories (AST-2232159), and the SWIFT-SAT: Observational Data Sharing (AST-2332422).
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