Chinese satellite narrowly avoided collision with Starlink: a threat of a space catastrophe.

According to ТСН: The low Earth orbit is becoming increasingly crowded, creating serious risks for space infrastructure. A recent incident that occurred after the launch of the Chinese rocket "Kuaizhou-1A", when one of the satellites came within just 200 meters of a Starlink device, confirms this problem.

Data conflict and lack of coordination

Starlink's Vice President of Engineering Michael Nichols noted that the SpaceX team did not receive timely and accurate data regarding the trajectory of the Chinese object. He emphasized that the main issue lies in the lack of a unified coordination system among international operators.

In turn, CAS Space, the company that conducted the launch, denies these accusations. The operator claims that it constantly monitored the situation and maintained communication with SpaceX. In China, it is believed that the dangerous close approach could have occurred due to the satellite's maneuver after it separated from the rocket.

The situation around the Starlink network, which already has over 9300 devices, is becoming increasingly tense. In 2024, each SpaceX satellite performed an average of 300 collision avoidance maneuvers per day, which is twice the amount compared to 2023.

In 2026, SpaceX plans to launch third-generation satellites using Starship, which will further complicate the traffic situation. Amazon and Viasat are also preparing their large-scale satellite networks.

The risk of the Kessler syndrome

Experts warn of the threat of reaching the "Kessler syndrome" point - a hypothetical scenario where the collision of two large objects leads to a chain reaction of destruction. The resulting cloud of space debris could render near-Earth space unfit for flight for decades.

"If operators do not establish effective communication on Earth, the next close approach could result in a global catastrophe," experts emphasize.

Specialists call for the urgent establishment of a transparent international data exchange system regarding the movement of space bodies to prevent a potential disaster.

Moreover, it is worth noting that the two richest people in the world - Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos - are pursuing different, yet equally ambitious visions of humanity's future in space, which already today influence the balance of power in the global space industry.