The China Manned Space Program successfully launched five missions this year, but those achievements were overshadowed by two near-collisions.
In a complaint filed with the United Nations earlier this month, China claimed it twice had to conduct evasive maneuvers of its space station to avoid “close encounters” with SpaceX Starlink satellites.
The first incident occurred on July 1 between the Starlink-1095 satellite—which lowered its orbiting altitude between May and June—and the China Space Station. The second near-crash happened on Oct. 21, when the Starlink-2305 satellite threatened impact with the CSS and its on-board astronauts.
The Dec. 6 letter requests that UN Secretary General António Guterres remind participating countries of their “international responsibility” to carry out cosmic activities “in conformity with the provisions set forth in the present Treaty.” Beyond simply nudging member states, though, it’s unclear exactly what actions China wants the UN to take.
It’s not just an internet constellation space explorers have to watch out for. In October 2020, segments of an old Russian satellite and a Chinese rocket passed within 76 yards of each other in low Earth orbit, narrowly avoiding a high-risk accident.
SpaceX, meanwhile, had to shift some Starlink orbits early this month to reduce the probability of contact with debris from Russia’s anti-satellite missile test. Space debris can travel up to 17,500 miles per hour, leading even the smallest artifact to cause serious damage if it strikes a spacecraft or astronaut. To avoid precisely these circumstances, each Starlink device is equipped with an “autonomous collision avoidance” system.
