SpaceX is calling out other satellite operators for nearly crashing into Starlink
SpaceX has criticized other satellite operators after reporting numerous close calls involving its Starlink network, which has roughly 11,000 satellites in orbit.
The company said about 650 satellites came close to Starlink spacecraft this year. It said roughly half did not provide their positions.
SpaceX highlighted an October 2025 incident in which a satellite changed course and came within 57 meters of a Starlink satellite. The company said missing information about planned maneuvers makes it harder to manage collision risks.
SpaceX publishes Starlink trajectory data, but says some operators do not share comparable information. Astronomers have warned that growing traffic in orbit could trigger chains of collisions and generate debris that makes some regions of space difficult to use.
SpaceX has previously said it would reposition about 4,400 Starlink satellites to lower collision risks, following a close call involving nine Chinese satellites. China also complained to the United Nations in 2021 about two Starlink satellites nearing its Tiangong space station.
Key points
- SpaceX reported about 650 potential close calls involving Starlink satellites this year.
- It says roughly half of the other satellites did not share their positions.
- Astronomers warn that collisions could create debris and threaten access to parts of orbit.