<p>On the local TV news, it was alleged that x-rays from some satellite could interfere with something on earth.  I didn't hear it but my wife thought they were talking about WiFi or internet or something like that.  (She's had people jobs, so technical details aren't her expertise.)</p>
<p>I know that more than one satellite is <strong>detecting</strong> x-rays.  Are there actually any emitting them?  If so, what could it interfere with?  (Perhaps the latter question belongs on <a href="https://physics.stackexchange.com">Physics</a>.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-09T17:52:31.583Z
Please link to this news item.  This question is a question about the operation of an artificial satellite, and so is off topic here.  But it may be on topic at [space.se].  But you will need the link to the news item to be in place.
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-10T11:04:58.737Z
X-rays can’t penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, so the scenario as stated isn’t possible. (And I don’t see how even locally generated X-rays could interfere with WiFi.)
Peter Erwin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-10T16:26:37.350Z
Me neither.  But I am still skeptical about whether a satellite emitting x-rays even exists.
WGroleau
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-12T00:07:13.973Z
There is some interest in looking at X-ray communications with deep space spacecraft, but in this case the transmissions would be pointed *away* from Earth and towards some distant spacecraft. See Space Exploration SE questions tagged [x-ray-communication](https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/x-ray-communication) especially [What will the X-ray communications (XCOM) transmitter look like?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/19881/12102)
uhoh
<satellite><x-ray>
Satellite emitting x-rays?
WGroleau
# Satellite emitting x-rays?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-01-09)

On the local TV news, it was alleged that x-rays from some satellite could interfere with something on earth. I didn't hear it but my wife thought they were talking about WiFi or internet or something like that. (She's had people jobs, so technical details aren't her expertise.)

I know that more than one satellite is **detecting** x-rays. Are there actually any emitting them? If so, what could it interfere with? (Perhaps the latter question belongs on [Physics](https://physics.stackexchange.com).)

**Tags:** satellite, x-ray
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Please link to this news item.  This question is a question about the operation of an artificial satellite, and so is off topic here.  But it may be on topic at [space.se].  But you will need the link to the news item to be in place.  
> **username_2**: X-rays can’t penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, so the scenario as stated isn’t possible. (And I don’t see how even locally generated X-rays could interfere with WiFi.)  
> **username_0**: Me neither.  But I am still skeptical about whether a satellite emitting x-rays even exists.  
> **username_3**: There is some interest in looking at X-ray communications with deep space spacecraft, but in this case the transmissions would be pointed *away* from Earth and towards some distant spacecraft. See Space Exploration SE questions tagged [x-ray-communication](https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/x-ray-communication) especially [What will the X-ray communications (XCOM) transmitter look like?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/19881/12102)  

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