August M
Amateur tracker exposes mystery signals from Starshield satellites
Amateur tracker exposes mystery signals from Starshield satellites
Mysterious signals from space: What is SpaceX really launching?
SpaceX has become a dominant force in global satellite launches, most famously through its Starlink network.
But According to Wptech behind the scenes, the company has been quietly deploying military satellites under the Starshield program.
A recent discovery has drawn new scrutiny: some of these satellites are emitting mysterious radio signals that experts say may violate international communication standards. And no one was supposed to notice.
Starshield: The secretive side of SpaceX
According to WP Tech, since 2024, SpaceX has launched a covert constellation of satellites known as Starshield, developed for the U.S. Department of Defense under a $1.8 billion contract.
These satellites are designed to provide reliable global connectivity for government use.
As WP Tech reports, they are generally indistinguishable from the thousands of commercial Starlink satellites already in orbit—until now.
The signal that shouldn’t exist
According to WP Tech, a satellite tracker named Scott Tilley discovered the anomaly entirely by accident. While operating his equipment, he detected signals from Starshield satellites transmitting in the 2025–2110 MHz range.
This frequency band is typically reserved for Earth-to-space transmissions—not the other way around. That distinction matters, because orbit-to-Earth transmissions in this range could interfere with other satellites.
170 satellites may be transmitting improperly
Further analysis showed that up to 170 Starshield satellites may be emitting signals in this prohibited band.
WPtech notes that while no other satellite operators have formally complained of interference, the emissions have been traced back to the military Starshield constellation.
These satellites borrow heavily from Starlink’s commercial technology but serve very different purposes under Pentagon oversight.
Who’s behind the launches?
According to WPtech, SpaceX has launched eleven batches of these satellites since May 2024, operating on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office—a U.S. intelligence agency focused on satellite-based surveillance.
These launches have been discreet, blending into routine commercial deployments. The unauthorized signal emissions, however, are attracting attention that the program likely hoped to avoid.
Violation of international telecom standards?
According to WPtech, the signals may violate UN International Telecommunication Union standards.
Transmitting from space to Earth in a band designated for the reverse direction is not standard practice and risks interfering with other space assets. Whether SpaceX is aware of the emissions—or their implications—remains unclear.
Accidental or intentional?
As WPtech it seems naive to assume that anything in the space sector can happen by accident.
One possible theory is that SpaceX is testing new technology under the radar—assuming that, if noticed, the signal could be quietly corrected.
The company has not confirmed the purpose of the transmissions or why they’re using a band typically reserved for ground-to-space data.
Secret satellites, unexpected exposure
SpaceX’s Starshield satellites typically go unnoticed—but a signal discovered by chance has now raised concerns.
According to WPtech, these satellites are transmitting in a frequency band normally used for ground-to-space communication, which the outlet says may violate international frequency regulations.
While the purpose of the transmissions remains unclear, the discovery raises questions about how such military satellites operate in orbit.
This article is made and published by auk1, which may have used AI in the preparation
