Classified SpaceX Satellites Detected Transmitting on Restricted Uplink Spectrum

An unexpected discovery by an amateur satellite tracker has revealed that SpaceX's classified Starshield satellites are transmitting data using a restricted radio frequency band. The signals, detected in the 2025-2110 MHz spectrum typically reserved for satellite uplinks, have raised questions about potential interference with other orbital systems.

Scott Tilley, a Canadian satellite enthusiast, stumbled upon the unusual transmissions while working on his hobby of monitoring satellites from home. The discovery was purely accidental, as Tilley explained, "It was just a clumsy move at the keyboard. I was resetting some stuff and then all of a sudden I’m looking at the wrong antenna, the wrong band. [It] should have nothing there. I got a hold of my mouse and hit the record button and let it record for a few minutes."

The 2025-2110 MHz frequency band is generally quiet because it is reserved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for satellite uplinks - communication sent from ground stations to satellites. Unlike downlink transmissions, which send data back to Earth, uplinks are typically conducted in short bursts, leaving this spectrum largely unused at other times. However, Tilley discovered signals being transmitted back to Earth from space, an unusual deviation from standard protocol.

Tilley analyzed the recordings he captured and cross-referenced them with a satellite tracking database maintained by fellow hobbyists. This process allowed him to pinpoint the source of the transmissions. "Bang, up came an unusual identification that I wasn’t expecting at all. Starshield", Tilley explained.

Starshield is SpaceX’s classified satellite constellation designed for use by the U.S. military. With over 200 satellites currently operational under the program, it is primarily utilized for Earth observation and secure communication. Tilley reported that the anomalous signals were detected from 170 of these satellites, all transmitting within the same restricted frequency range.

The use of the 2025-2110 MHz spectrum for downlink transmissions by SpaceX's satellites has potential implications for other satellites operating in orbit. Because this frequency is reserved for uplinks, SpaceX’s activities could risk interfering with other satellites, whether they are commercial, scientific, or military. Such interference could render affected satellites unresponsive to commands.

Tilley suggested that SpaceX’s decision to use this restricted frequency might have been deliberate. "SpaceX is smart and savvy", he commented. He speculated that the company may have opted to "do it and ask forgiveness later."

The Starshield program is operated in collaboration with the National Reconnaissance Office, a government agency overseeing the United States' satellite intelligence activities. While the nature of Starshield's operations remains classified, this latest incident highlights the challenges posed by overlapping frequency usage in an increasingly crowded orbital environment.

Whether SpaceX intends to address the potential interference caused by its satellites remains unclear, as the company has not publicly commented on Tilley’s findings. For now, the unusual activity serves as a reminder of how even amateur enthusiasts can uncover anomalies in the ever-expanding domain of space technology.

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