According to the study, this incident is said to have happened on December 10. SpaceX’s Engineering Vice President Michael Nichols had said in a social media post that immediately after the launch of a Chinese rocket, one of their Starlink satellites and another satellite passed at a distance of about 200 meters. This distance is considered very short on the scale of space and is considered a situation of possible collision i.e. collision risk.
A few weeks later, SpaceX said that it was planning to lower about half of its operational Internet satellites from an altitude of 550 kilometers to an orbit of about 480 kilometers. The company says that this will improve space safety.
Close Approach How big is the tension for the world?
- Researchers associated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences say that even though there was no collision, this incident was quite worrying.
- This incident caused Starlink to directly trigger a large-scale orbit lowering decision.
- According to the report, the Chinese satellite involved was a high-resolution Earth imaging satellite, which was launched with other payloads from the Kinetica-1 rocket.
- The study said that the initial orbital data of that satellite was prepared just 14 minutes before the close approach incident.
- SpaceX has already said that one advantage of lower orbit is that when satellites become defunct, they quickly enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up. This reduces space debris.
- Researchers believe that this step also strengthens the company’s image as a responsible operator.
Answers to questions raised after the close approach incident
Have mega constellations become a threat to space safety?
According to the report, large satellite groups i.e. mega constellations are now becoming a serious concern for space safety. Thousands of satellites are moving simultaneously in the same altitude areas, due to which the risk of collision is increasing. The challenge of traffic management in space has become more complex than ever.
What is China’s stand on the issue after the close approach incident?
China has already criticized Starlink’s rapid expansion. He had mentioned the close approach incidents that took place near his Tiangong Space Station in 2021. China says that deploying such a large number of satellites can pose a threat to space security and increases the risk of collision.
What has been said in the research about satellite orbit?
The researchers found that most of the non-Starlink satellites launched after 2019 were placed in orbits above 500 kilometers. In comparison, many of Starlink’s satellites are in a lower orbit of about 480 km, which is considered relatively safe because in case of a malfunction, the satellites can come down quickly.
Will there not be close approach incidents on 480 km orbit?
Atmospheric drag is more in lower orbit. This means that if a satellite malfunctions, it can slowly enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up. Due to this, it does not roam in space as dangerous debris for a long time.
What are the disadvantages of having satellite in lower orbit?
Due to high drag in lower orbit, the speed of the satellite decreases quickly. It has to spend more fuel to maintain its altitude. This reduces its operational life and increases the cost of the mission. That means economic loss is also associated with security.
What major danger has the study warned about?
The study says that if the process of bringing down 4,400 satellites starts simultaneously, it will be the largest in-orbit maneuver in history. During this period, a high-risk situation can persist for months because so many objects will move simultaneously.
What is the biggest danger in a collision?
If control of a satellite is lost or there is a collision, debris can spread. This debris can collide with another satellite and start a chain reaction, which is considered a danger like ‘Kessler syndrome’. Due to this, a large part of the space may become unusable.
Why is this issue important globally?
Space has now become not only a scientific field but also an important basis for internet, communication and security. The increasing crowd shows that countries and companies will have to work together to strengthen rules, coordination and safety protocols. Otherwise it may become difficult to carry out space operations in future.
