SpaceX calls for better coordination in orbit after near-misses with Starlink
"These led to conjunctions of tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Way too close to comfort." https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/spacex-calls-for-better-coordination-in-orbit-after-near-misses-with-starlink/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
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@arstechnica So SpaceX puts a zillion satellites in orbit and then complains when other things come close to them?
@arstechnica absolutely nobody expected this!
@arstechnica
> “That said, the law of large numbers says that if it can happen, it will happen,” Nicolls said.
That is not at all what the law of large numbers says
@arstechnica guy with loud parties every night demands neighbours keep the noise down in the mornings.
@arstechnica While the request is obviously just in service of SpaceX doing better for themselves, it's not exactly unreasonable.
If you read the article further, you'll see that many other providers just... never publish the locations of their satellites, meaning if you can't detect them yourself, they're basically just ghost satellites ready to smash into whatever you're launching with no warning.
And companies are hiding it for a perceived competitive advantage despite the risk.
@arstechnica "We're trying to find out who did this!"