SpaceX warned that undisclosed orbital maneuvers by rival satellite operators present the greatest collision hazard in low-Earth orbit, following tens of thousands of potential near-misses and hundreds of close approaches involving the Starlink constellation.
Total launched satellites have reached 12,988, with 11,137 currently on orbit and 11,123 actively working. The rocket company published operational footage and data revealing that its Starlink network encountered potential conjunctions with about 650 unique maneuvering third-party satellites over the course of the year. SpaceX is pushing for mandatory data sharing after logging an immense volume of orbital traffic hazards.
About half of those encountering spacecraft operated without sharing their orbital telemetry or planned propulsion burns. Company representatives noted that while passive space debris can be tracked like obstacles on a highway, unexpected maneuvers by active spacecraft remove predictability. Historic close calls have influenced these tensions; in 2021, China filed complaints with the United Nations stating that two Starlink satellites nearly collided with the Tiangong space station, an incident that followed earlier historical milestones such as a 2019 event where a Starlink satellite failed to dodge the European Space Agency’s Aeolus Earth-observation satellite due to a paging system glitch.
SpaceX Warns Unannounced Maneuvers Drive Orbital Collision Risks
In August 2026, a Starlink spacecraft had to execute an emergency evasion when an adjacent satellite abruptly shifted course too late for standard lateral movement. Specific near-miss incidents documented in company disclosures highlighted the operational risks facing the 11,000-strong Starlink constellation.
“The vehicles ultimately passed within 134 metres of each other. This approach could have been prevented if the other object shared its manoeuvre ahead of time.”
SpaceX, via The Register
Another dangerous close call occurred in October 2025, when an unannounced trajectory adjustment by an external satellite narrowed the passing distance to just 57 meters.
Across a six-month observation window, Starlink recorded approximately 164,000 potential conjunction events where the time of closest approach fell within four hours following an unannounced maneuver. Company executives noted that many operators remained completely unaware of flaws in their collision screening processes until SpaceX reached out to alert them.
Michael Nicolls Outlines Ephemeris Sharing at the International Astronautical Congress
While Starlink automates its collision avoidance and publishes hourly updated ephemeris data for its entire fleet through platforms like space-safety.com, other operators frequently withhold telemetry. Some companies protect trajectory schedules as proprietary competitive secrets.
“Either they were not publishing their ephemeris to us, or they were not considering the ephemeris of others when they were maneuvering, and these led to conjunctions of tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Way too close to comfort.”
Michael Nicolls, SpaceX Vice President for Starlink and President of xAI, via TOKENPOST
Nicolls pointed out that the data-sharing gap involves operators from multiple nations, including China and Russia, alongside various commercial entities in the United States and Europe. Ground-based tracking radars often suffer from tracking latencies lasting hours or days, making direct operator-to-operator transparency essential for safe station-keeping.
Competitors Support Open Orbital Communication Amid Megaconstellation Growth
Rajeev Badyal, head of Amazon Leo, confirmed during discussions with industry reporters that Amazon coordinates every rocket launch and orbit-raising phase directly with SpaceX and other constellation operators. Competitors in the rapidly expanding satellite broadband sector have voiced support for open orbital communication.
Amazon Leo plans a first-generation network of 3,232 satellites, backed by Federal Communications Commission approvals for a second-generation 4,504-satellite expansion. Meanwhile, SpaceX is gearing up for massive constellation growth. Elon Musk has discussed plans for up to 100,000 Starlink satellites alongside ambitious proposals for as many as one million orbital data centers in the coming years.
SpaceX is urging agencies like the FCC and international spectrum authorities to tie orbital licensing directly to mandatory ephemeris exchange protocols as regulatory bodies examine traffic management frameworks. Without enforceable standards requiring operators to broadcast planned maneuvers, the density of low-Earth orbit will continue driving up the frequency of close approaches.
“Either they were not publishing their ephemeris to us, or they were not considering the ephemeris of others when they were maneuvering, and these led to conjunctions of tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Way too close to comfort.”
Michael Nicolls, SpaceX Vice President for Starlink and President of xAI, via TOKENPOST