Surrey researchers are working to solve the problem of Elon Musk's reflective satellites - by painting them black.

A new partnership between Surrey NanoSystems and the University of Surrey is aiming to tackle what has become a major concern for astronomers worldwide.

File photo of a set of NanoRacks CubeSats photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member after the deployment by the Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD), 11 Feb 2014. British researchers are working to solve the problem of Elon Musk's reflective satellites - by painting them black. A new partnership between Surrey NanoSystems and the University of Surrey is aiming to tackle the growing problem, a major concern for astronomers worldwide. Their latest innovation, Vantablack 310, is a super-black coating designed to dramatically reduce the glare from satellites that interferes with astronomical observations. Only 2% of incoming light is reflected by the surface after product is applied, while the remaining 98% is absorbed. More than 8,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites already orbit Earth and projections estimate a rise to 60,000 by 2030, partly driven by the development of mega-constellations.
A set of NanoRacks CubeSats photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member after the deployment by the Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD). (JSC/NASA / SWNS)

They are working on using Surrey NanoSystems's newest product, Vantablack 310, which is a super-black coating.

When Vantablack 310 is applied to a surface, it reflects only 2 percent of incoming light, meaning it absorbs the remaining 98 percent.

This high level of light absorption makes the coated surfaces appear extremely dark, helping to minimise the unwanted brightness from satellites that can disrupt the work of stargazers.

Dr Keiran Clifford, Senior Technologist and project lead at Surrey Nanosystems and Astha Astha, Postgraduate Research Student. British researchers are working to solve the problem of Elon Musk's reflective satellites - by painting them black. A new partnership between Surrey NanoSystems and the University of Surrey is aiming to tackle the growing problem, a major concern for astronomers worldwide. Their latest innovation, Vantablack 310, is a super-black coating designed to dramatically reduce the glare from satellites that interferes with astronomical observations. Only 2% of incoming light is reflected by the surface after product is applied, while the remaining 98% is absorbed. More than 8,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites already orbit Earth and projections estimate a rise to 60,000 by 2030, partly driven by the development of mega-constellations.
Dr Keiran Clifford, Senior Technologist and project lead at Surrey Nanosystems and Astha Astha, Postgraduate Research Student. (University of Surrey / SWNS)

More than 8,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites already orbit Earth and projections estimate a rise to 60,000 by 2030, partly driven by the development of mega-constellations.

To combat this problem, satellite operators have begun experimenting with mitigation strategies including dark coatings and changes to satellite position, though the negative impact on ground-based measurement persists.

Surrey NanoSystems, with a heritage in ultra-black technologies, say their new solution, Vantablack 310, is a handleable, customer applied coating, resistant to the challenging LEO environment.

Image shows Vantablack being applied to a surface. British researchers are working to solve the problem of Elon Musk's reflective satellites - by painting them black. A new partnership between Surrey NanoSystems and the University of Surrey is aiming to tackle the growing problem, a major concern for astronomers worldwide. Their latest innovation, Vantablack 310, is a super-black coating designed to dramatically reduce the glare from satellites that interferes with astronomical observations. Only 2% of incoming light is reflected by the surface after product is applied, while the remaining 98% is absorbed. More than 8,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites already orbit Earth and projections estimate a rise to 60,000 by 2030, partly driven by the development of mega-constellations.
Vantablack being applied to a surface. (University of Surrey / SWNS)

The technology will be trialled on the Jovian 1 mission, scheduled to launch in 2026, which will be the first satellite mission from JUPITER – the Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research.

One side of a shoebox-sized CubeSat will be coated with Vantablack 310, marking the first UK-led initiative to explore solutions for reducing satellite brightness.

The initiative aims to not only improve space sustainability but also demonstrate the efficacy of Vantablack 310 as a hull-darkening solution.

Starlink satellites are featured in this file photo (Dec 2024) taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station (ISS). He said: "This one shows atmospheric airglow, yellow-green at 120km and the fainter upper red at 400km, star trails moving in arcs on the left and straight lines on the right, Starlink satellites flashing sunlight off their solar panel, the Cygnus cargo vehicle (left), my Soyuz vehicle (center), and the Russian laboratory module MLM (right)." An astronaut has shared the jaw-dropping view from his workplace window - aboard the International Space Station (ISS). American spaceman Don Pettit used long exposure camera techniques to shoot a trio of images looking out a window on the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft attached to the ISS. His pictures show the Pacific Ocean as viewed off the coasts of New Zealand, Australia and also Mexico. Another image shows Starlink satellites flashing sunlight off their solar panels and atmospheric airglow above Earth. British researchers are working to solve the problem of Elon Musk's reflective satellites - by painting them black. A new partnership between Surrey NanoSystems and the University of Surrey is aiming to tackle the growing problem, a major concern for astronomers worldwide. Their latest innovation, Vantablack 310, is a super-black coating designed to dramatically reduce the glare from satellites that interferes with astronomical observations. Only 2% of incoming light is reflected by the surface after product is applied, while the remaining 98% is absorbed. More than 8,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites already orbit Earth and projections estimate a rise to 60,000 by 2030, partly driven by the development of mega-constellations.
Starlink satellites taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station (ISS). (Don Pettit/NASA / SWNS)

Dr Keiran Clifford, Senior Technologist and project lead at Surrey Nanosystems, said: "Our latest coating technology, Vantablack 310, offers super-black performance across a wide range of viewing angles, while remaining robust to the challenging LEO environment.

"We’re proud to be working with our partners at the University of Surrey to deliver innovations in the satellite sector, ensuring sustainable and equitable access to a night sky for all."

Researchers from the University of Surrey are developing ways to evaluate the experiment from Earth.