Subscribe now
Shooting stars and Starlink stellites leaving streaks in photographs of the night sky

SpaceX's efforts to make satellites less bright aren't working well

22 April 2023

Megaconstellations of satellites are a problem for astronomy, and while SpaceX has made several attempts to dim its Starlink satellites, they don't seem to be having the desired effect


This photograph taken on September 25, 2022, shows an antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system donated by the US tech billionaire Elon Musk in Izyum, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)

What's next if SpaceX won't fund Starlink in Ukraine?

14 October 2022

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the company can no longer pay for the Starlink satellites providing internet for Ukraine’s government and military. What you need to know


Ariane 64 rocket

What does Amazon's attempt to dominate space mean for everyone else?

6 April 2022

Amazon has placed the largest ever order for commercial rocket launches, booking up much of the global capacity for the next five years as part of its Project Kuiper plan for satellite broadband


Anti-satellite weapons: Will further tests make space more dangerous?

Anti-satellite weapons: Will further tests make space more dangerous?

17 November 2021

After the Russian military smashed a defunct satellite, creating a cloud of dangerous debris, other powers may wish to prove they have similar capabilities


Satellite tracking map

Why the US is worried a Russian satellite might be a space weapon

16 August 2018

A Russian satellite has been getting closer to Earth without a clear reason and US officials are concerned that it could be a space weapon


Man looks at globe surrounded by mini satellites mounted on metal arcs

The UK's plan to build a rival GPS is a bonkers Brexit scheme

3 May 2018

Now the UK is excluded from contracts to build Europe’s Galileo satellites, it wants to talk up building its own system to keep aerospace firms from leaving


Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop