SpaceX reported that its Starlink satellite constellation executed about 300,000 maneuvers to avoid collisions in 2025, as detailed in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission on Dec. 31, 2025. The company operates the constellation in low Earth orbit to provide internet services worldwide, amid growing concerns about orbital crowding.
The maneuvers represented a 50% increase from roughly 200,000 in 2024, according to SpaceX's FCC reports. Officials attributed the rise to increased orbital traffic. SpaceX uses a threshold of 3-in-10-million probability for triggering maneuvers, stricter than the industry standard of 1-in-10,000.
The FCC requires semi-annual reports on collision risks. The latest filing, covering June through November 2025, detailed 149,000 maneuvers. A prior report, for December 2024 through May 2025, listed 144,000, for a total of about 293,000, which SpaceX rounded to 300,000.
By late 2025, Starlink's fleet included about 9,400 satellites, representing 65% of all active satellites in orbit, according to SpaceX data. Experts say the high number of maneuvers highlights challenges in managing dense satellite populations.
"That's a huge amount of manoeuvres," said Hugh Lewis, a space debris expert at the University of Birmingham, as quoted in a New Scientist article published around Jan. 24, 2026.
SpaceX launched its first Starlink satellites in 2019. The constellation's rapid growth has raised concerns about space debris. A collision could produce thousands of debris pieces and risk Kessler syndrome, a cascade that renders orbits unusable, according to FCC mandates.
SpaceX recently introduced Stargaze, a free tool for space situational awareness, announced around Jan. 25, 2026, according to reports from Teslanorth.com. The platform tracks satellites and predicts close approaches to help prevent collisions, assisting other operators in crowded orbits. It addresses more than 33,000 tracked objects in space, as noted in New Scientist coverage.
Orbital crowding stems from mega-constellations like Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon's Kuiper project. SpaceX's satellites use propulsion systems for orbit adjustments, but frequent maneuvers consume fuel and shorten satellite lifespans, raising costs for deorbiting and replacement, according to industry analyses.
SpaceX plans to expand Starlink to more than 12,000 satellites, which could increase maneuver needs. The U.S. Space Force monitors orbital activities amid rising militarization concerns. Activists from the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space opposed such projects during events like the 2025 "Keep Space for Peace Week," citing initiatives including the "Golden Dome" system.
A 2009 collision between Iridium and Cosmos satellites prompted stricter regulations, echoed in the FCC's reporting requirements for SpaceX. No major Starlink collisions occurred in 2025, according to the reports.
Experts project further increases in maneuvers as satellite numbers grow. SpaceX's conservative threshold results in more actions than competitors might perform, though the company provided no direct comparisons in its filings.
The 9,400 satellite count aligns with trackers like N2YO, as referenced in sources. The 50% increase from 2024 matches prior data.
Stargaze represents a step toward shared responsibility in space traffic management. Broader trends include privatization of space activities, with commercial operators dominating low Earth orbit deployments. Regulators like the FCC continue to monitor for sustainability.
Orbital experts call for international guidelines to manage debris. The United Nations has discussed space sustainability during events like World Space Week. Activists link commercial growth to potential weaponization risks.
SpaceX's 2025 actions underscore the need for advanced tracking tools. Stargaze could set a precedent for industry-wide cooperation, with future FCC reports tracking ongoing trends.
