[Interview+] Fighting Light Pollution from Satellites with Ultra Black Paint
Satellites are causing light pollution. Every year there a more of them. So, why don't they just paint them all vantablack, the ultra-black coating that doesn't reflect almost any light? Finding out in this interview.
Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1yQegWQWtUo
Comments (6)
A fantastic interview Fraser. I'm really glad the research is being done however, as the research is just getting started, it'll be years before there is a discernible impact upon light pollution, and only then if this and/or other research yields positive results. In some ways, the future is looking bright but that might not be a good thing!
What would the impact of widespread use of vantablack be on future tracking of space junk?
Good question. Ultra black might hide stuff visibly to combat light pollution but how about adding, combining coatings that enhance radar refectivity for tracking - would that be possible?
It's a tricky problem analogous to radar stealth for ships and planes. Whether it's better to absorb the radiation or reflect it away from the receiver. For satellites, reflecting away would require mirror quality flat surfaces so perhaps ultra matt paint might be a cheaper solution.
Although this will help with the light pollution, your observations will still be obscured by the satellites, no matter how black or reflective they appear.
Ya know, a comparison of Rubin or the square kilometer array vs a space scope would probably be handy.