What did SpaceX say about near-misses?
Michael Nicolls, SpaceX's vice president for Starlink, spoke at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Turkey. According to Ars Technica, he said Starlink now has more than 11,000 satellites, about two-thirds of all active spacecraft in low Earth orbit, and that its satellites perform about 1,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers per day to avoid working satellites and debris. In the last few months they steered clear of about 650 active satellites from other operators, and only half of those come from operators that share ephemeris data with SpaceX.
An ephemeris is a file describing where a satellite is and where it is going. Nicolls cited cases where other satellites maneuvered without telling anyone, causing close approaches of "tens of meters to hundreds of meters." Ars notes the examples did not suggest hostile intent.
Who does not share orbit data?
A chart in the SpaceX talk suggested the problem lies largely with Chinese and Russian satellites, though some operators in the US, Europe and Japan also decline to share, per Ars Technica. Nicolls said SpaceX shares data with China's space station and some other Chinese operators, but not with many others. This is SpaceX's account. We did not see the other operators' side.
What is Starlink doing about it?
Ars reports SpaceX has lowered its whole active constellation below 500 km (310 miles), which it says moves the network away from crowded orbits, speeds up reentry of failed satellites and improves service for customers. The new V3 satellites, which began launching on Starship last month, will fly lower still, at about 350 km. Starlink satellites also use onboard cameras, called Stargaze, that SpaceX says track about 90% of maneuvering satellites crossing their orbits. If they cannot steer away, they can point to reduce collision risk. Those are company statements.
How does Amazon Leo compare?
Amazon Leo has 396 satellites in orbit. Its head, Rajeev Badyal, told Ars that Amazon coordinates every launch with SpaceX and that sharing orbit data is "a non-issue." Amazon's first generation is 3,232 satellites, and the FCC in February approved a 4,504-satellite second generation. See our Amazon Leo update.
Does this affect your Starlink service?
Not directly. No plan, price or availability change came out of this talk. The practical takeaway is that more satellites in a lower orbit is part of how Starlink adds capacity, and the safety debate will shape future rules. If you want Starlink at home, check your address on starlink.com for current availability and pricing. If you order through our referral link, you get the same reward as the person who referred you, which Starlink gives as cash or service credit once you have been subscribed for two months (Starlink's US example is $100; the amount shown in your Starlink account is what counts).
Frequently asked questions
How many satellites does Starlink have in orbit?
More than 11,000, about two-thirds of active satellites in low Earth orbit, according to SpaceX's Michael Nicolls as reported by Ars Technica on October 8, 2026.
How often do Starlink satellites dodge other objects?
About 1,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers per day, per SpaceX. That includes debris and working satellites.
What is ephemeris data?
A description of where a satellite is and where it will be. Sharing it lets operators predict and avoid close approaches.
Are there rules requiring satellites to share their positions?
Ars Technica reports no global treaty or regulation requires satellites to broadcast locations or maneuvers, so it is left to governments and companies.
Will this change my Starlink price or speed?
No change was announced. SpaceX says lowering the constellation improves service, which is its claim and not a measured result.