Technology and Science07 October, 20262 min read
SpaceX Warns Starlink Near-Misses Involving 650 Maneuvering Satellites, Urges Trajectory Sharing
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SpaceX reports about 650 unique manoeuvring satellites involved in near-misses with Starlink in 2026. SpaceX urges industry-wide sharing of ephemeris data and planned trajectories to prevent collisions.
SpaceX flags collision risk
SpaceX warned that low Earth orbit is growing more dangerous as Starlink encountered potential near-miss situations involving around 650 unique manoeuvring satellites in 2026, with only about half sharing trajectory information. SpaceX said the risk is preventable when operators change course without providing updated data, and the company argued that the biggest problem is not simply the presence of other objects in orbit. SpaceX highlighted a close approach in August when one Starlink satellite came within 134 metres (440 ft) of another spacecraft, and SpaceX said the satellite had to rotate its solar arrays into a narrow, “knife-edge” profile to reduce the risk.
SpaceX also pointed to an October 2025 incident in which another spacecraft altered its trajectory and temporarily put itself on a path that would have taken it within just 57 metres (187 ft) of a Starlink satellite. SpaceX said Starlink recorded approximately 164,000 potential collision events during the past six months, and the company argued that the sheer number of potential encounters shows orbital traffic is increasing.
Data sharing becomes the fix
Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s senior vice president of space systems, called for operators from every country to share trajectory information, and SpaceX framed the issue as one of coordination rather than just tracking. Nicolls said, “That said, the law of large numbers says that if it can happen, it will happen,” as he argued that collision risk mitigation depends on improving tracking, awareness, and coordination. SpaceX said it has already moved approximately 4,400 Starlink satellites to reduce collision risks, and the company said it publishes trajectory information and provides collision-screening services.
SpaceX’s Starlink safety guidance called for operators to publish ephemeris data, maintain contact information, and identify whether spacecraft are active and capable of manoeuvring. Neuraspace CEO Chiara Manfletti said, “Manoeuvrability is becoming essential, and operators increasingly need timely, accurate information about where other spacecraft intend to be, including planned manoeuvres.”
Expansion raises the stakes
SpaceX tied its push for ephemeris sharing to its expansion plans, saying it has around 11,000 Starlink satellites in orbit and that it is planning an even larger constellation. SpaceX’s disclosures also described a future in which a major collision could destroy satellites and scatter thousands of fragments, with those fragments potentially colliding with other spacecraft in a chain reaction sometimes referred to as the Kessler syndrome. SpaceX said the concern is particularly relevant as it looks to expand Starlink even further, and the company described Elon Musk discussing plans for as many as 100,000 Starlink satellites alongside proposals for orbital data centres.
SpaceX’s near-miss warning arrived as it sought authorization to deploy up to 100,000 third-generation Starlink satellites, and it also requested authorization for a constellation of up to one million satellites for AI data centers. SpaceX’s approach also drew attention because it operates such a large constellation itself, with China complaining to the United Nations in 2021 after two Starlink satellites came close to the Tiangong space station.