A dangerous near-miss between satellites operated by SpaceX and a Chinese firm has highlighted the growing perils of congested orbital space, with experts issuing stark warnings about the risk of a catastrophic cascade of collisions.
A Narrow Avoidance in Low Earth Orbit
On Monday 15 December 2025, it was revealed that satellites from Elon Musk's Starlink constellation and recently launched spacecraft from Chinese operator CAS Space came perilously close to each other. The two objects passed within an estimated 200 metres—a tiny margin in the high-speed environment of orbit.
Michael Nicholls, SpaceX's Vice President of Starlink Engineering, stated that the close approach occurred due to a lack of coordination and shared data. He explained that SpaceX was unable to manoeuvre its satellites to a safer distance because it did not receive necessary ephemeris data—tracking information—from the Chinese operator in time.
"The absence of data sharing between satellite operators is the primary risk we face in space today," Nicholls emphasised, calling for urgent reform in how companies and nations communicate. CAS Space later acknowledged the incident, noting it happened nearly 48 hours after payload separation, and agreed on the need to re-establish collaboration between new space ecosystems.
The Looming Threat of Kessler Syndrome
This event underscores a critical vulnerability as the number of objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) skyrockets. Space traffic is increasing rapidly, driven by mega-constellations like Starlink, and launches are often poorly coordinated on a global level.
Experts warn that a single major collision could trigger a domino effect known as 'Kessler Syndrome'. This scenario, proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler, describes a chain reaction where debris from one collision destroys other satellites, creating more debris. The result could render entire orbital bands around Earth unusable for generations, crippling global communications, GPS, and weather monitoring.
An Urgent Call for International Cooperation
The Starlink-CAS Space near-miss acts as a stark warning siren. Nicholls's comments point to a fundamental flaw in the current system: the operational silos between different national and commercial entities. Without established protocols for real-time data exchange and collision avoidance manoeuvres, the probability of a catastrophic accident increases with every new launch.
The incident has reignited debates about space traffic management and regulation. While CAS Space expressed a willingness to collaborate, translating that into actionable, global standards remains a formidable diplomatic and technical challenge. The future of safe and sustainable space operations may hinge on overcoming terrestrial geopolitical tensions to protect the shared domain of orbit.
