Picture this: you’re scrolling through your phone, checking social media or streaming a video, when suddenly your connection cuts out. You might blame your internet provider, but what if I told you the real culprit was almost a collision between two satellites hurtling through space at 17,500 miles per hour, nearly 300 miles above your head?
That’s exactly what almost happened on December 9th, when the world came dangerously close to witnessing its first major space crisis between China and the United States. Two satellites—one American, one Chinese—missed each other by just 200 meters in orbit. In space terms, that’s like two Formula 1 cars passing each other with barely an inch to spare.
This near-miss wasn’t just another routine space event. It represented something much bigger and more troubling: the growing risk that our increasingly crowded skies could spark an international incident that starts in space but affects everyone on Earth.
When 200 Meters Feels Like a Hair’s Width
The starlink satellite collision that almost happened involved STARLINK-6079, part of SpaceX’s massive internet constellation that brings broadband to remote areas worldwide. The other player was a freshly deployed Chinese spacecraft, launched just hours earlier from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China aboard a Kinetica-1 rocket.
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At orbital speeds, 200 meters might as well be touching. These satellites were traveling so fast that if you blinked, they would have already passed each other—or collided catastrophically. The scary part? Neither side saw it coming until it was almost too late.
“Without shared orbital data and real-time coordination, satellites can slip into dangerously close approaches that neither side fully anticipates,” explained a space industry analyst familiar with orbital mechanics.
The alarm bells didn’t ring until after the fact, when SpaceX vice president Michael Nicolls took to social media to voice his concerns. His message was diplomatic but pointed: China hadn’t coordinated their satellite deployment with SpaceX, and crucial tracking data wasn’t readily available to prevent such close calls.
What Really Happened During That Chinese Launch
The Chinese launch itself was supposed to be a celebration of their growing commercial space capabilities. The Kinetica-1 rocket successfully delivered nine satellites to low Earth orbit, but the mission’s complexity made tracking and coordination a nightmare.
Here’s what was actually launched that day:
| Satellite Type | Quantity | Owner/Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-purpose satellites | 6 | China (tech demonstration/commercial) |
| Observation satellite | 1 | United Arab Emirates |
| Scientific satellite | 1 | Egypt |
| Educational satellite | 1 | Nepal |
This international mix of satellites shows China’s strategy of becoming the go-to launch provider for emerging space nations. But it also creates a tracking nightmare. When nine different objects get released in quick succession, each following slightly different orbital paths, keeping tabs on them all becomes incredibly complex.
“Every new satellite we put up there increases the collision risk exponentially,” notes a former NASA mission planner. “It’s not just about avoiding one satellite—it’s about avoiding thousands of them, all moving in different directions and at different speeds.”
The problem gets worse when you consider that low Earth orbit is already crowded with over 8,000 active satellites, plus thousands more pieces of space debris from previous missions and accidents.
Why This Almost-Disaster Should Keep You Up at Night
You might think a starlink satellite collision hundreds of miles above Earth wouldn’t affect your daily life, but you’d be wrong. The ripple effects of such an incident would reach far beyond space.
First, there’s the immediate impact on services you probably use every day. Starlink satellites provide internet access to rural communities, ships at sea, and remote military outposts. A collision could have knocked out service for thousands of users instantly.
But the bigger concern is what happens next. A collision at orbital speeds doesn’t just destroy two satellites—it creates thousands of pieces of high-speed debris, each one capable of destroying other satellites it encounters. This chain reaction, known as Kessler Syndrome, could make entire orbital regions unusable for decades.
The geopolitical implications are even more serious. If a Chinese satellite had destroyed an American one, or vice versa, both nations would have faced immense pressure to respond. Space assets are now considered critical infrastructure, and attacks on them could be seen as acts of war.
“We’re essentially playing a high-stakes game of chicken in orbit,” explains a space policy expert. “The difference is that when something goes wrong up there, everyone on Earth feels the consequences.”
The services at risk include:
- GPS navigation systems used by everything from Uber to emergency responders
- Weather forecasting satellites that help predict storms and natural disasters
- Communication satellites that handle international phone calls and internet traffic
- Military reconnaissance satellites that both nations rely on for national security
The Real Problem No One’s Talking About
This near-miss exposed a fundamental flaw in how we manage space traffic. Unlike air traffic control, which carefully coordinates every commercial flight, space operations are largely unregulated and uncoordinated between nations.
China and the United States don’t share real-time satellite tracking data, partly due to national security concerns and partly due to simple bureaucratic inertia. This means that operators on both sides are essentially flying blind, relying on outdated orbital predictions and hoping for the best.
“It’s like trying to avoid car accidents on a busy highway where nobody uses turn signals and half the drivers have their headlights off,” describes one satellite operator who requested anonymity.
The situation is getting worse as more countries and private companies launch satellites. India, Russia, South Korea, and dozens of smaller nations all have active space programs. Private companies like Amazon, OneWeb, and dozens of others are planning massive satellite constellations that could add tens of thousands more objects to orbit.
Without better coordination and shared tracking systems, incidents like the December 9th near-miss will become routine rather than exceptional. The next time, we might not be so lucky.
FAQs
How fast do satellites travel in orbit?
Most satellites in low Earth orbit travel at approximately 17,500 miles per hour, completing a full orbit around Earth every 90-120 minutes.
How close is “too close” for satellites in space?
Generally, anything closer than 1 kilometer (about 3,280 feet) is considered a close approach that requires monitoring, while distances under 100 meters are considered extremely dangerous.
Who tracks satellites to prevent collisions?
The U.S. Space Force maintains the most comprehensive tracking system, monitoring over 47,000 objects in orbit, but many countries operate their own tracking systems with limited data sharing.
What would happen if two satellites actually collided?
A collision would create thousands of pieces of debris traveling at orbital speeds, each capable of destroying other satellites and potentially triggering a cascade effect that could make entire orbital regions unusable.
Can satellite operators actually steer their satellites to avoid collisions?
Yes, most modern satellites have small thrusters that can adjust their orbit, but these maneuvers require advance planning and coordination between operators.
How many satellites are currently in orbit?
As of 2024, there are approximately 8,000 active satellites in orbit, with thousands more planned for launch in the coming years by various countries and private companies.