Collision Risks
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Solar Storm Could Trigger Satellite Collisions In Some Conditions: Study
A new study warns that a major solar storm could disable satellite controls and trigger cascading collisions in low Earth orbit within about three days.
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Chinese Spacecraft Nearly Slammed Into Starlink Satellite, SpaceX Reveals
A Starlink satellite narrowly avoided a collision after a spacecraft launched by a Chinese rocket passed within 200 meters in orbit. SpaceX warned that the incident highlights growing safety risks caused by poor coordination as Earth’s orbital environment becomes increasingly crowded with satellites.
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Artemis Era Raises Safety Concerns as Lunar Orbit Nears Capacity, New Study Finds
As lunar exploration surges, scientists warn that the Moon’s limited stable orbits are growing crowded. Georgia Tech simulations suggest that with about 50 satellites, each may need several collision-avoidance maneuvers per year. Even now, orbiters like Chandrayaan-2 require frequent course corrections. With Artemis and private missions incoming,...
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China and NASA Coordinate to Avoid Satellite Collision for the First Time
China’s CNSA made history by alerting NASA to a possible satellite collision—marking the first instance of Beijing warning Washington in orbit. With Earth’s orbits growing crowded from megaconstellations like Starlink and Guowang, the event signals a new phase of cooperation in global space traffic control and shared responsibility for orbita...
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Rising Satellite Traffic in Low Earth Orbit Sparks Collision Risk Concerns
A new study in Acta Astronautica warns that Low Earth Orbit is becoming dangerously congested. Since 2019, the number of satellites performing more than ten collision-avoidance maneuvers per month has risen sevenfold. With nearly 25,000 tracked objects and more launches planned, scientists fear a chain-reaction risk and call for stronger global coo...
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Mars Dust Devils May Spark Lightning, Might Pose Risks to Rovers: Study
A new computer-modeling study reveals that dust devils on Mars—swirling columns of dust and air—may become electrically charged enough to spark lightning-like discharges. Led by researcher Varun Sheel, the study simulates how dry Martian conditions and frictional collisions between dust grains can generate strong electric fields inside these vo...
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Earth Could Be Ejected Out Of The Solar System, Study Warns
Passing stars could trigger instability across the solar system, resulting in Earth being hauled out of its orbit.
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Massive Asteroid 2002 JX8 to Fly Past Earth on May 9, Live Stream Available for Public Viewing
A 950-foot-wide asteroid named 2002 JX8 will safely pass Earth on May 9. The Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the event starting at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Scientists confirm there is no risk, as the asteroid will remain over 2.6 million miles away. It’s classified as potentially hazardous based on size and distance, not on collision likelihood.
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Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a 2.3 Percent Chance of Hitting Earth in 2032, Says NASA
Asteroid 2024 YR4, measuring 180 feet wide, has a 2.3% chance of impacting Earth on 22 December 2032, according to scientists. A smaller 0.3% risk of the asteroid colliding with the moon has also been noted. While the Earth impact could release energy equal to 8 megatons of TNT, a moon strike may create a visible crater. Researchers are using the J...
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Increasing Space Debris Risks Aircraft Collisions, Experts Warn
Uncontrolled space debris entering Earth's atmosphere is becoming a growing concern, with rising risks to aircraft safety. A study from the University of British Columbia reveals a 26% chance of debris collisions in high-traffic regions like the Northeastern US and Northern Europe. Recent incidents, such as falling debris from SpaceX’s Starship 7...
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Rocket Lab Delays IoT Satellite Launch to Ensure Safe Trajectory in Space
Rocket Lab has postponed its "IOT 4 You and Me" mission to avoid potential collisions with satellites and the International Space Station. This mission, set to deploy five IoT satellites, marks Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025. The company is taking extra precautions to monitor space traffic and ensure the rocket follows a safe trajectory. The sat...
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ISS Successfully Executes Collision Avoidance Maneuver Amid Rising Space Junk Threat
The International Space Station (ISS) conducted its 39th collision avoidance maneuver to evade space debris from a 2015 satellite breakup. The adjustment in orbit prevented a potential close encounter within 2.5 miles of the ISS. Experts attribute increasing debris risks to factors such as satellite fragmentation events and solar activity. Measures...
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Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Orbiter Avoided Collision With Danuri Spacecraft in September, Reveals ISRO
In September, India’s Chandrayaan-2 orbiter made a crucial trajectory change to avoid colliding with South Korea’s Danuri spacecraft. This adjustment came after multiple collision alerts had been issued due to the shared near-polar orbits of Chandrayaan-2, Danuri, and NASA’s LRO.
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Apophis Asteroid Flyby in 2029: Earth's Gravitational May Impact Asteroid's Surface
Asteroid 99942 Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, is set to pass incredibly close to Earth in 2029, at just 32,000 km. While there is no risk of a collision, scientists are keen to study the asteroid’s interaction with Earth's gravity. Research led by planetary scientist Ronald Ballouz suggests that this flyby may cause si...
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Skynet-1A Satellite’s Unexplained Orbit Shift Raises Questions About Command History
Launched in 1969, the UK's oldest satellite, Skynet-1A, has moved significantly from its original position. Experts believe this was due to a deliberate command in the 1970s. The satellite now orbits over the Americas, near active satellite traffic, raising risks of collisions. Limited records exist regarding its control history, with suggestions o...
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Solar Storm Could Trigger Satellite Collisions In Some Conditions: Study
A new study warns that a major solar storm could disable satellite controls and trigger cascading collisions in low Earth orbit within about three days.
-
Chinese Spacecraft Nearly Slammed Into Starlink Satellite, SpaceX Reveals
A Starlink satellite narrowly avoided a collision after a spacecraft launched by a Chinese rocket passed within 200 meters in orbit. SpaceX warned that the incident highlights growing safety risks caused by poor coordination as Earth’s orbital environment becomes increasingly crowded with satellites.
-
Artemis Era Raises Safety Concerns as Lunar Orbit Nears Capacity, New Study Finds
As lunar exploration surges, scientists warn that the Moon’s limited stable orbits are growing crowded. Georgia Tech simulations suggest that with about 50 satellites, each may need several collision-avoidance maneuvers per year. Even now, orbiters like Chandrayaan-2 require frequent course corrections. With Artemis and private missions incoming,...
-
China and NASA Coordinate to Avoid Satellite Collision for the First Time
China’s CNSA made history by alerting NASA to a possible satellite collision—marking the first instance of Beijing warning Washington in orbit. With Earth’s orbits growing crowded from megaconstellations like Starlink and Guowang, the event signals a new phase of cooperation in global space traffic control and shared responsibility for orbita...
-
Rising Satellite Traffic in Low Earth Orbit Sparks Collision Risk Concerns
A new study in Acta Astronautica warns that Low Earth Orbit is becoming dangerously congested. Since 2019, the number of satellites performing more than ten collision-avoidance maneuvers per month has risen sevenfold. With nearly 25,000 tracked objects and more launches planned, scientists fear a chain-reaction risk and call for stronger global coo...
-
Mars Dust Devils May Spark Lightning, Might Pose Risks to Rovers: Study
A new computer-modeling study reveals that dust devils on Mars—swirling columns of dust and air—may become electrically charged enough to spark lightning-like discharges. Led by researcher Varun Sheel, the study simulates how dry Martian conditions and frictional collisions between dust grains can generate strong electric fields inside these vo...
-
Earth Could Be Ejected Out Of The Solar System, Study Warns
Passing stars could trigger instability across the solar system, resulting in Earth being hauled out of its orbit.
-
Massive Asteroid 2002 JX8 to Fly Past Earth on May 9, Live Stream Available for Public Viewing
A 950-foot-wide asteroid named 2002 JX8 will safely pass Earth on May 9. The Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the event starting at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Scientists confirm there is no risk, as the asteroid will remain over 2.6 million miles away. It’s classified as potentially hazardous based on size and distance, not on collision likelihood.
-
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Has a 2.3 Percent Chance of Hitting Earth in 2032, Says NASA
Asteroid 2024 YR4, measuring 180 feet wide, has a 2.3% chance of impacting Earth on 22 December 2032, according to scientists. A smaller 0.3% risk of the asteroid colliding with the moon has also been noted. While the Earth impact could release energy equal to 8 megatons of TNT, a moon strike may create a visible crater. Researchers are using the J...
-
Increasing Space Debris Risks Aircraft Collisions, Experts Warn
Uncontrolled space debris entering Earth's atmosphere is becoming a growing concern, with rising risks to aircraft safety. A study from the University of British Columbia reveals a 26% chance of debris collisions in high-traffic regions like the Northeastern US and Northern Europe. Recent incidents, such as falling debris from SpaceX’s Starship 7...
-
Rocket Lab Delays IoT Satellite Launch to Ensure Safe Trajectory in Space
Rocket Lab has postponed its "IOT 4 You and Me" mission to avoid potential collisions with satellites and the International Space Station. This mission, set to deploy five IoT satellites, marks Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025. The company is taking extra precautions to monitor space traffic and ensure the rocket follows a safe trajectory. The sat...
-
ISS Successfully Executes Collision Avoidance Maneuver Amid Rising Space Junk Threat
The International Space Station (ISS) conducted its 39th collision avoidance maneuver to evade space debris from a 2015 satellite breakup. The adjustment in orbit prevented a potential close encounter within 2.5 miles of the ISS. Experts attribute increasing debris risks to factors such as satellite fragmentation events and solar activity. Measures...
-
Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Orbiter Avoided Collision With Danuri Spacecraft in September, Reveals ISRO
In September, India’s Chandrayaan-2 orbiter made a crucial trajectory change to avoid colliding with South Korea’s Danuri spacecraft. This adjustment came after multiple collision alerts had been issued due to the shared near-polar orbits of Chandrayaan-2, Danuri, and NASA’s LRO.
-
Apophis Asteroid Flyby in 2029: Earth's Gravitational May Impact Asteroid's Surface
Asteroid 99942 Apophis, named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, is set to pass incredibly close to Earth in 2029, at just 32,000 km. While there is no risk of a collision, scientists are keen to study the asteroid’s interaction with Earth's gravity. Research led by planetary scientist Ronald Ballouz suggests that this flyby may cause si...
-
Skynet-1A Satellite’s Unexplained Orbit Shift Raises Questions About Command History
Launched in 1969, the UK's oldest satellite, Skynet-1A, has moved significantly from its original position. Experts believe this was due to a deliberate command in the 1970s. The satellite now orbits over the Americas, near active satellite traffic, raising risks of collisions. Limited records exist regarding its control history, with suggestions o...
