SpaceX calls for better coordination in orbit after near-miss with Starlink

“My fundamental request here is that we need to make progress here and start sharing data about all vehicles, whatever country you’re from, with us and with others, to promote a safe operating environment,” Nicolls said.

What do SpaceX’s competitors think? Ars asked the head of Amazon Leo, Rajeev Badyal, about coordinating with Starlink, its main competitor in the satellite broadband market. Amazon has 396 satellites in orbit today, with hundreds more waiting to launch when their rockets are ready to take them into orbit.

“Space security is also important to us,” Badyal said. “Every launch we do, we actually coordinate with SpaceX. We coordinate with others who have satellites. We let them know where we launch them, how we raise the orbit, etc. So we have regular meetings with companies like SpaceX to exchange data.

“So, for us, sharing ephemeris or sharing information required for space security is a non-issue,” Badyal said. “We are big proponents of making sure that we all operate in this domain in space in a coordinated way because [the] Consequences of not doing are significant for everyone, and there is no reason not to.

Amazon Leo’s first-generation constellation will consist of 3,232 satellites, and the Federal Communications Commission in February approved Amazon’s request for a 4,504-satellite second-generation network. Amazon has applied for FCC approval for an additional 5,105 satellites for direct-to-device connectivity, but the company is still far from matching the size of the Starlink fleet.

“Obviously SpaceX is the biggest constellation out there,” Badyal said. “We work with them hand in hand. As for China and adversaries, that’s something I can’t comment on right now. At some point we have to coordinate, or it will end up being a negative thing for everyone, especially if they get to scale.”