Starlink satellites executed 144,404 collision evasion maneuvers between December and May, according to SPACEX DATA LOCATED BEFORE THE FCC. That is equivalent to a maneuver every two minutes.
Why is it important. Each evasion is an opportunity for human or technical error that could trigger a destructive chain reaction. Kessler syndrome – COLLISCES WASHING THAT WOULD MAKE A COMPLETE ORBITE – STARTS TO STOP SUMMARY FOR SCIENCE.
The figures. Starlink has tripled its evasion maneuvers with respect to the previous period. To contextualize: Isro, the Indian Space Agencyhe has only made 122 maneuvers in 14 years. Between 2022 and 2023 he had whether Pico: 23.
The context. The low land orbit has become a kind of highway. A saturated highway. Spacex has launched more than 6,000 satellitesand plan to deploy up to 42,000. Amazon, Oneweb and several countries prepare their own constellations.
The democratization of space brings obvious benefits: global Internet, land observation, emergency communications. The problem is the hidden cost of orbital congestion.
Between the lines. Spacex has asked for “uniform report standards” for the entire industry.
Translation: We need clear play rules before someone causes a catastrophe that affects everyone.
The threat. A single error can be translated into thousands of spatial garbage fragments traveling 28,000 km/h. In addition, each fragment becomes a projectile capable of destroying other satellites, which would create more fragments in a chain reaction.
And now what. The industry is developing autonomous evasion systems with which They promise to reduce maneuvers up to 50%. But the real solution and long term goes through international regulation and coordination between operators.
The space is immense, but not infinite. Maybe it’s time to learn to share it.
Outstanding image | Spacex
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