SpaceX recently struck a deal with NASA to move any of the companies Starlink internet satellites off the road if it is moving too close to the International Space Station or other agency spacecraft.
The Space Act, signed on March 18, will help maintain and improve space security, NASA officials said.
SpaceX has so far launched over 1,400 Starlink broadband satellites. After the first Starlink operational launch in 2019, the company changed the design of the satellites, offering upgrades designed to reduce their reflectivity, allow them to communicate with each other in orbit and even maneuver out of the way, if necessary.
Related: SpaceX’s Starlink satellite mega-constellation launches into photos
“With the launch of more and more satellite companies, it is essential to increase communications, exchange data and establish best practices to ensure that we all maintain a secure space environment,” said Steve Jurczyk, interim administrator. at NASA he said in a statement.
In 2020, International Space Station had to adjust its orbit several times at avoid potential collisions, a task that requires a coordinated effort. As the number of Starlinks and other satellites in orbit increases, so does the likelihood of a type of space traffic occurring.
SpaceX has long pointed out that Starlink satellites are equipped with autonomous collision avoidance features that help the spacecraft change positions in orbit. By signing this new agreement, NASA hopes that if such a tight passage takes place, only the Starlink spacecraft will have to move.
The agreement also requires SpaceX to notify NASA at least one week before each Starlink launch, so that the agency can determine if the mission poses collision avoidance issues. To take it a step further, SpaceX has agreed to launch satellites into initial orbits that are not less than 5 kilometers from the ISS or other NASA spacecraft.
“NASA has agreed not to maneuver in the event of a potential conjunction to ensure that the parties will not accidentally maneuver with each other.” provides for agreement. “NASA will work based on the fact that the autonomous maneuverability of Starlink satellites will try to maneuver to avoid correlation with NASA assets and that NASA will maintain its planned trajectory, unless SpaceX informs otherwise.”
In addition, the collaboration with SpaceX will include efforts to reduce it further the brightness of Starlink satellites. So far, SpaceX has equipped its Starlink satellites with a special sunshade that reduces the brightness of the ship, but the agreement allows the exchange of information between the two entities.
SpaceX is not the only company with big plans for space-based internet services. OneWeb, Telstar and Amazon all have their own planned constellations. In a real-world example of why these types of agreements exist, a Starlink spacecraft and a OneWeb satellite grew uncomfortably side by side on March 30th.
The two companies managed to coordinate with OneWeb moving his satellite out of the way. As the number of satellites in space increases rapidly, such cooperation is likely to be the key to avoiding collisions.
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