Starlink satellites now maneuver 275 times a day to avoid collisions with other space objects.
Over the past six months, SpaceX’s Starlink satellites have completed nearly 50,000 maneuvers aimed at avoiding collisions with other satellites and space debris — nearly twice as many as in the previous six months. Experts warn of the negative consequences of rapidly increasing maneuvers in orbit, writes Space.
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SpaceX announced in a new report that its satellites are increasing the number of orbital maneuvers. Each Starlink satellite fired its thrusters an average of 14 times between Dec. 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, to avoid its own satellites, other companies’ satellites, and space debris. During that same period, the number of active satellites in the Starlink constellation increased from 5,100 to 6,200.
SpaceX said the maneuver threshold has been lowered and its satellites now move to avoid a potential collision when the chance of a collision is one in a million. This threshold is 100 times lower than the accepted standard.
Starlink satellites have been a source of concern for space safety experts since they launched into orbit in 2019. The constellation’s launch into orbit has brought orbital motion into an entirely new era, where collision avoidance maneuvers are a daily necessity.
During the first four years, the number of evasive maneuvers doubled every six months, reaching 25,299 in the six months to May 31, 2023. Despite the increase in the number of satellites between May and December 2023, the number of maneuvers remained the same.
Huw Lewis from the University of Southampton in the UK believes that the recent doubling of the number of satellite maneuvers must be related to a decrease in the maneuver threshold. The scientist expected more maneuvers, given the growing size of the group. Lewis believes that increased solar activity has caused a decrease in the amount of debris in orbit around Starlink satellites.
Space weather from coronal mass ejections and solar flares around Earth concentrates thin gas in the planet’s upper atmosphere. As a result, satellites experience more drag, which pulls them down to a lower altitude. Dead satellites and pieces of space debris also fall down.
Starlink satellites make decisions to autonomously avoid other objects using onboard artificial intelligence. While the increased number of maneuvers aims to make orbital movements safer, they can also have a negative impact on future collision predictions.
Research has shown that each collision avoidance maneuver disrupts satellite orbit predictions. After the maneuvers, the actual position of the satellites can differ by up to 40 km from the predicted position, making collision predictions inaccurate.
The more Starlink satellites maneuver, the faster they burn fuel, shortening their lifespan, Lewis said.
SpaceX continues to build its Starlink constellation, which could eventually include up to 42,000 satellites. Lewis predicts the number of Starlink satellite avoidance maneuvers will continue to grow over the next few years, reaching 80,000 by 2027.
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Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.