Starlink urges operators to share orbital data after close approaches
In short
Starlink published onboard camera footage showing other spacecraft passing close to its satellites and called on satellite operators to share orbital data. A senior SpaceX executive presented the footage at the International Astronautical Congress in Turkey. The company said it is not told in advance about other operators' maneuvers, which it calls the biggest risk in low Earth orbit.
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SpaceX's Starlink called on satellite operators to share orbital tracking data, saying that unannounced maneuvers by other spacecraft create collision risks in low Earth orbit. According to 3DNews, the appeal was made at the International Astronautical Congress in Turkey, where SpaceX senior vice president Michael Nicolls presented video recorded by Starlink satellites' onboard cameras. In some of the cases shown, the objects passed within hundreds and even tens of meters of each other, which the outlet described as very close by space standards. [ 1 , 2 ]
iXBT reported that Starlink published the footage of the close approaches without naming the operators involved and without stating the minimum distance. The company accompanied the video with a direct warning: “We cannot reduce the risk when another operator performs maneuvers without reporting the predicted trajectory, including an engine burn. This is the biggest risk in low Earth orbit.” The outlet said the point of the complaint is that tracked debris can be avoided using ground radar data, whereas a sudden maneuver by another spacecraft without a published trajectory leaves too little time to evade it. [ 2 ]
Starlink operates a low Earth orbit constellation of 11,000 satellites and publicly publishes data on their current coordinates and speed, allowing other space navigation participants to avoid collisions with its objects, 3DNews reported. Some satellite operators do not share such information publicly, the outlet said, which can create a risk of collisions. iXBT reported that Starlink launched a free Space Safety system for exchanging orbital data. [ 1 , 2 ]
The appeal is not the first time SpaceX has raised the issue. 3DNews reported that in December last year a Chinese satellite, placed in orbit by the company CAS Space, came critically close to one of Starlink's satellites. vc.ru summarised the complaint briefly, noting that spacecraft can maneuver away from space debris but that doing so is more difficult with other satellites. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Starlink operates a constellation of 11,000 low Earth orbit satellites, according to the company, and the documents describe unannounced maneuvers by other spacecraft as a collision risk affecting all operators in low orbit. The appeal comes from the largest constellation operator, which already publishes its own coordinates, while the documents do not establish whether rivals will share data in return.
Key facts
- Starlink showed onboard camera video of close approaches at the International Astronautical Congress, held in Turkey. [ 1 , 2 ]
- SpaceX senior vice president Michael Nicolls presented the video; in some cases objects passed within hundreds or even tens of meters of each other. [ 1 ]
- Starlink said operators should share predicted trajectories, including engine burns. [ 2 ]
- Starlink operates a low Earth orbit constellation of 11,000 satellites and publicly publishes their current coordinates and speeds, according to the company. [ 1 ]
- Some satellite operators do not share such information publicly, Starlink said. [ 1 ]
- Starlink launched a free Space Safety system for exchanging orbital data. [ 2 ]
- Starlink did not name the operators involved or state the minimum distance in the footage. [ 2 ]
- 3DNews reported that in December last year a Chinese satellite orbited by CAS Space came critically close to a Starlink satellite. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- SpaceX's Starlink called on satellite operators to share orbital data, citing collision risk. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Starlink published onboard camera footage showing close approaches between its satellites and other objects. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Starlink said it cannot reduce the risk when another operator performs maneuvers without reporting a predicted trajectory including an engine burn, calling this the biggest risk in low Earth orbit. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Which operators the approaching spacecraft belong to, and how close they came. iXBT states the company did not name the operators or give the minimum distance.
- Whether the December close approach involving a satellite orbited by CAS Space led to any measures or responses. Only 3DNews mentions the December incident, and it gives no further detail or reaction.
- Whether other satellite operators will adopt the data-sharing Starlink is asking for. The documents report the request but no response from other operators.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 3DNews reports SpaceX's call for open orbital data sharing, citing Michael Nicolls's presentation at the International Astronautical Congress in Turkey. [ 1 ]
- iXBT reports Starlink published onboard camera footage of close approaches and quotes its warning about unreported maneuvers. [ 2 ]
- vc.ru reports SpaceX's complaint that other satellites pass close to its Starlink constellation. [ 3 ]