---
title: "SpaceX urges universal ephemeris sharing after close-approach incidents"
slug: "spacex-urges-universal-ephemeris-sharing-after-close-approach-incident"
date: "2026-10-10"
category: "Business & Society"
author: "Simon Banks"
correspondent: "Simon Banks"
correspondentRole: "Labor & Societal Impact Investigator"
readingTimeMinutes: 3
tags: []
originalSourceUrl: "https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/spacex-calls-for-better-coordination-in-orbit-after-near-misses-with-starlink/"
canonicalUrl: "https://aurav.ae/spacex-urges-universal-ephemeris-sharing-after-close-approach-incident"
publisher: "Aura-V Intelligence (aurav.ae)"
---

# SpaceX urges universal ephemeris sharing after close-approach incidents

> SpaceX’s Starlink VP says megaconstellations need open satellite-position data to avoid dangerous near-misses.

## Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

- Michael Nicolls warned that unshared ephemeris data leads to close approaches between Starlink and other satellites.
- Starlink conducts about 1,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers daily and has lowered its orbit below 500 km.
- Nicolls called for all operators, especially Chinese and Russian, to publish trajectory data for safe space-traffic management.

SpaceX’s senior Starlink executive used a presentation at the International Astronautical Congress in Turkey to flag a widening coordination gap as megaconstellations multiply, warning that “the law of large numbers says that if it can happen, it will happen” [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/spacex-calls-for-better-coordination-in-orbit-after-near-misses-with-starlink/). With more than 11,000 Starlink satellites—about two-thirds of all active low-Earth-orbit (LEO) craft—already in place, SpaceX is also planning a “Starmind” network of up to a million satellites to host AI computing. Competing projects from Amazon, China and other Western firms are set to add thousands more, raising the stakes for collision avoidance.

## Unannounced maneuvers create tense close approaches
Nicolls presented several instances where non-Starlink satellites altered trajectories without broadcasting ephemeris data, resulting in “conjunctions of tens of meters to hundreds of meters.” SpaceX’s onboard navigation cameras—part of the “Stargaze” system—track roughly 90 % of maneuvering objects intersecting Starlink orbits, yet the company still logs about 1,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers per day. In recent months, Starlink satellites have autonomously ducked or re-oriented to steer clear of roughly 650 active satellites from other operators; only half of those belong to entities that share ephemeris data with SpaceX.

## SpaceX’s mitigation steps and data-sharing push
To reduce exposure, SpaceX has lowered the entire active Starlink constellation below 500 km (310 mi), a move that moves the network away from heavily trafficked orbital bands, speeds re-entry of failed units, and improves service quality. The newer V3 satellites, launched on Starship, will operate at about 350 km (217 mi). SpaceX also publishes ephemeris data for its fleet and urges other operators to do the same, arguing that reliable trajectory predictions are the “minimum standard” for sustainable LEO activity.

## Industry and geopolitical hurdles to universal openness
Amazon’s Leo head, Rajeev Badyal, affirmed that his company coordinates launches with SpaceX and shares necessary orbital data, describing ephemeris exchange as a “non-issue.” Amazon currently fields 396 satellites, with FCC-approved plans for a second-generation network of 4,504 satellites and a further request for 5,105 units. Nonetheless, Nicolls noted that many Chinese operators “decline to publicly share their satellite ephemeris data,” and that similar reticence exists among some U.S., European and Japanese entities. A chart from his presentation suggested the bulk of the data-sharing problem stems from Chinese and Russian satellites, though the issue is not confined to those nations.

Nicolls concluded with a direct appeal: “We need to make headway here and begin sharing data across all vehicles, from whatever country you are, with us and with others, to promote a safe operating environment.”

Our read: The lack of a binding global framework forces safety to depend on voluntary data exchange, leaving the orbital commons vulnerable as constellations expand. SpaceX’s public push may pressure reluctant operators, but without regulatory teeth the risk of cascading debris remains.

## Aura-V Editorial Verdict

SpaceX’s push for transparent orbital data highlights a regulatory gap as megaconstellations grow. The appeal could spur industry standards or leave the orbital environment vulnerable to debris cascades.

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*Original Think-Tank Source: [SpaceX calls for better coordination in orbit after near-misses with Starlink](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/spacex-calls-for-better-coordination-in-orbit-after-near-misses-with-starlink/)*