By 2025, Starlink system devices will be forced to make about 150 thousand avoidance passes from Chinese satellites and space debris. SpaceX said this “exhausted” them in a report filed with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which was reviewed by the publication South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The document notes that from June 1 to November 30, Starlink satellites performed 148,696 maneuvers to avoid collisions. A significant portion of such cases occurred at Chinese-made facilities. For SpaceX, the biggest threat is the experimental Honghu-2 satellite developed by China's Hongqing Technology, which alone has caused 1,143 dodges.
The report listed the 20 most dangerous objects in orbit for Starlink satellites, due to which the devices are forced to change orbit, and 7 of them are related to the PRC. The company explains that collision avoidance maneuvers waste fuel and wear out satellites, shortening their lifespan.
Furthermore, the situation will become even more difficult in the future as the number of vehicles in orbit as well as the amount of space junk increases. Also posing a threat are competing supersatellites (constellations of thousands of artificial satellites created to provide global Internet).
