The Chinese satellites SpaceX says were on collision course with Starlink

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Victoria BelaJanuary 22, 2026 at 04:00 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

SpaceX reported that its Starlink satellites performed nearly 150,000 collision avoidance maneuvers in a six-month period last year, with a significant number prompted by Chinese satellites and space debris. Hongqing Technology's Honghu-2 satellite was the largest single contributor, causing over 1,100 maneuvers. SpaceX filed a report with the FCC detailing these incidents, noting that seven Chinese space objects were among the top twenty requiring Starlink adjustments, accounting for over 3,700 maneuvers. These maneuvers, which consume fuel and reduce satellite lifespan, highlight growing safety concerns as multiple internet megaconstellations operate in orbit. The Honghu-2 satellite was launched in December 2023.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States Federal Communications Commission 50% LandSpace 60% Zhuque 2 Y-3 65% Hongqing Technology 70% Honghu-2 75% China ×280% SpaceX ×390% Starlink ×495%

Keywords

satellite collision avoidance 90% starlink 80% chinese satellites 80% space debris 70% collision course 60% space safety 60% honghu-2 satellite 50% spacex 50% megaconstellations 50% satellite lifespan 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Political Lean

Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

85%

Geographic Perspective

China

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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satellite collision avoidance starlink chinese satellites space debris collision course space safety honghu-2 satellite spacex megaconstellations satellite lifespan

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