Free Space Situational Awareness Data for Satellite Operators
SpaceX has unveiled Stargaze, an online tool for tracking space objects and warning of potential on-orbit collisions, with a promise to provide the system’s space situational awareness data free of charge to other satellite operators. The system uses data from the company’s nearly 9,600 Starlink satellites to generate accurate orbit estimates and predictions of position and velocity for all detected objects in near real-time. SpaceX recently faced a collision scare in December, prompting the company to lower some 4,400 Starlinks to reduce congestion. The move has potential consequences for the commercial SSA community and the Department of Commerce’s Traffic Coordination System for Space program, as reported by Breaking Defense.