SpaceX is poised to launch Stargaze, a modern space situational awareness (SSA) system designed to improve the safety and sustainability of operations in low Earth orbit (LEO). The initiative, which leverages data from the company’s nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites, aims to provide conjunction data messages (CDMs) – details on potential close approaches between objects in space – to all satellite operators free of charge. This move has garnered attention within the industry, with some calling it a potential “game changer” for space traffic management.
The core of Stargaze lies in its ability to collect a massive volume of observations. According to SpaceX, the system gathers approximately 30 million observations daily using star tracker cameras onboard its satellites. This data is then used to calculate orbits “in near real-time,” allowing for the prediction of potential collisions and the issuance of timely warnings. The company plans to open the system to all satellite operators this spring, a move that could significantly enhance coordination and reduce the risk of debris-generating collisions.
How Stargaze Works: A New Approach to Orbital Monitoring
Traditional Space Situational Awareness (SSA) relies heavily on ground-based sensors to observe objects in orbit. Stargaze, however, utilizes a distributed network of sensors already in space – the star trackers on Starlink satellites. These trackers, designed to help satellites orient themselves, also continuously observe nearby objects. This allows Stargaze to detect and track a far greater number of objects than might be possible with ground-based systems alone. Marco Concha, flight dynamics engineering manager at Amazon Leo, noted during a SpaceCom Expo panel that Stargaze is reportedly able to observe an individual space object up to 1,000 times each day, a rate he described as “extraordinary” (SpaceNews).
The system autonomously detects these observations, aggregates them, and generates accurate orbit estimates and predictions of position and velocity for all detected objects. These predictions are then integrated into a space traffic management platform that identifies potential close approaches and generates CDMs. SpaceX has already been conducting a “closed beta” test of the platform with over a dozen satellite operators, facilitating low-latency ephemeris sharing and conjunction screening (Unmanned Airspace Info).
Industry Reaction and the Importance of Data Sharing
The announcement of Stargaze has been met with largely positive reactions from the space industry. Ruth Stilwell, executive director of Aerospace Policy Solutions, highlighted the significance of SpaceX’s involvement, stating that a system from such a “dominant player” receives a different level of attention (SpaceNews). The scale of the system, combined with SpaceX’s backing, has generated optimism about its potential impact.
A key aspect of Stargaze is SpaceX’s commitment to providing the data free of charge. Operators who submit their own ephemeris (trajectory predictions) to the platform will also receive CDMs based on Stargaze data, as well as ephemeris from other participating operators. This collaborative approach to data sharing is seen as crucial for improving overall space safety. SpaceX’s decision to share this data comes after an incident in late 2025 where a Starlink satellite nearly collided with a third-party satellite that was maneuvering without sharing ephemeris data. At the time, the close approach was initially anticipated to be approximately 9,000 meters, considered a safe distance, but the lack of shared data created unnecessary risk (Unmanned Airspace Info).
Looking Ahead: The Future of Space Traffic Management
The launch of Stargaze represents a significant step towards more effective space traffic management. While details regarding the accuracy and quality of the data remain limited, the sheer scale of the system and SpaceX’s commitment to open access have positioned it as a potentially transformative tool for the industry. As more operators begin to utilize the platform this spring, the true impact of Stargaze will turn into clearer. The success of this initiative could pave the way for more collaborative and data-driven approaches to ensuring the long-term sustainability of space activities.
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