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Kessler Syndrome

2 GoKawiil briefs on this topic

Astronomers track solar storms using drag on SpaceX's Starlink fleet

Researchers are monitoring the atmospheric drag experienced by SpaceX's more than 11,000 Starlink satellites to calculate a daily 'sink rate,' the altitude a typical satellite at 480 km would lose in one day without thruster corrections. In 2026 that figure has swung from 19.7 meters per day during quiet conditions to 127.6 meters per day during the year's largest geomagnetic storm in January.

spaceweather.com · 2026-09-23

European report warns rising satellite numbers heighten Kessler syndrome risk

A new European report examines the growing risk of orbital collisions as active satellites have surged from roughly 1,000 in 2013 to about 17,000 today, according to CelesTrak. SpaceX's Starlink constellation accounts for most of this growth with around 11,000 satellites, while Amazon, Chinese internet constellations, and planned orbital data centers are set to add many more.

arstechnica.com · 2026-09-23