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A comment on SpaceX just got FCC approval to launch 7,518 satellites. Parent comment

Re:SpaceX just got FCC approval to launch 7,518 satellites by ubercore on Thursday November 15, 2018 @04:58PM (#18463834)
> Satellites can and do collide despite the vast amount of space in a given orbit.

Excluding planned collisions, or collisions during failed docking, I found 4 instances of collisions between satellites and space debris. Ever. Now, a couple of things:

* Yes this larger constellation will increase those odds in the future.

* No, a catastrophic doomsday scenario did not occur when those happened.

* SpaceX will have complete control of these satellites through their operational lifespan (excluding collisions or malfunctions).

* Orbital decay for debris at the altitude they're operating at is ~10 years.

Also, have to ask... is all this concern a result of reading Seveneves? :)

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Re:SpaceX just got FCC approval to launch 7,518 satellites by Rooster61 on Thursday November 15, 2018 @05:29PM (#18464069)
I'm afraid I haven't heard of Seveneves before today, although it does look like an interesting read.

My concern is just from a general interest in spaceflight. More of a wish to protect a resource rather than a Chicken Little fear of the sky literally falling out.

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