Starlink Collision Avoidance CONOPs

Automation

Starlink executes >500 collision avoidance maneuvers per day, almost all of them automated. Starlink also perform more than 1,000 automated actions to reduce cross-sectional area to further lower conjunction risk.

Contact and Maneuverability

The vast majority (> 95%) of Starlink satellites have contact with the ground every hour. The vast majority (> 99%) of Starlink satellites are maneuverable.

Starlink is generally willing to take maneuver responsibility for high-risk conjunctions involving maneuverable Starlink satellites.

Maneuver Thresholds

Maneuverable Starlink satellites will plan maneuvers if they observe a close approach with a probability of collision > 3e-7, or if the mean state of their predictions passes through a 200m radial, 2000m cross-track, 2000m along-track keepout volume.

These maneuvers are typically planned no sooner than 12 hours prior to the time of closest approach (TCA) and are typically executed 3-4 hours later.