Radio astronomy research and high-speed internet find cadence

The National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), which spans areas of Virginia and West Virginia, will now offer high-speed satellite internet service to the vast majority of its residents. This breakthrough is the result of a nearly three-year collaboration between the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), SpaceX, and the NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), which operates the NSF Green Bank Observatory (NSF GBO) within the NRQZ.

Photo credit: NSF/NSF NRAO/AUI/S. Wasik and SpaceX.

Improved satellite internet service for National Radio Quiet Zone: How Radio astronomy research and high-speed internet find cadence

Chris De Pree, NSF NRAO Deputy Spectrum Manager, remarked, "Working closely with SpaceX over the past three years has enabled NRAO and SpaceX to better understand each other’s systems and how to actively coexist in this part of the spectrum."

Founded in 1958, the NRQZ is a designated area where radio transmissions are strictly coordinated to protect scientific research and national security operations conducted by government facilities, which require a "quiet" radio environment to detect faint signals. The National Security Agency also operates a facility within the NRQZ, the Sugar Grove Station in West Virginia.

Technical advances enable radio astronomy research to coexist with high-speed internet service, benefiting 99.5% of residents in the National Radio Quiet Zone

Following a coordination agreement signed in 2019, scientists and engineers conducted multiple tests and analyses to determine how to offer satellite internet service without disrupting the missions within the NRQZ. As a result, SpaceX will begin a one-year assessment period on October 25 to provide residential satellite internet to 99.5% of NRQZ residents.

Jim Jackson, Director of the NSF Green Bank Observatory, explained, "This collaboration will allow residents to access high-quality, high-speed internet, while also expanding opportunities for improved communication, such as those needed by emergency services and first responders."

During the assessment period, scientists and engineers will monitor for any interference issues and work to resolve them without disrupting the internet service.