SpaceX is calling out other satellite operators for nearly crashing into Starlink

SpaceX is urging rival satellite operators to share more information to prevent major collisions in Earth's orbit. Following a recent near-miss involving one of its Starlink satellites, SpaceX has warned that operators not sharing satellite trajectories are engaging in a "dangerous game of chicken." According to a blog post from SpaceX, the company's Starlink network experienced potential near-miss collisions with roughly 650 satellites this year, with half of these incidents involving operators who failed to disclose their satellite positions.

Two particularly risky encounters were highlighted: in August, a Starlink satellite had to maneuver into a "knife-edge profile" to avoid a collision, and in October, another Starlink satellite narrowly escaped a potential collision with another object, passing within 57 meters if the other satellite hadn't changed its trajectory.

SpaceX contends that without sharing predicted trajectories, the risk of catastrophic collisions in low Earth orbit cannot be mitigated. While SpaceX makes its satellite trajectories publicly available, other operators' lack of transparency is increasing collision risks. Astronomers have long cautioned that the growing number of satellites could lead to a cascade of collisions, creating debris clouds that threaten the usability of certain orbits and potentially restrict humanity's access to space.

SpaceX has previously addressed this issue, moving around 4,400 Starlink satellites in January to reduce collision risks after a near-miss with nine Chinese satellites. According to SpaceX's data, the majority of satellites involved in close encounters with Starlink this year, which did not share their trajectory data, originated in China.