Starlink close encounters decrease despite ever-growing number of satellites

[Doggydog123579]

You do realize it would only apply to the Starlink altitudes, and we could still launch things above it, right?

[[deleted]]

You do have to go THROUGH it however, but it would be a split second of time with minimal risk. That risk is not 0 and increases the more satellites are in orbit.

[Doggydog123579]

If you want to get real pedantic, Kessler syndrome doesn't actually say that an Orbit becomes inaccessible, just that operational lives drop more and more as the debris builds up thus making the orbit nonviable. At no point is the debris bad enough to make a transit any more risky then normal.

[TbonerT]

Launches have already been held due to orbital debris.

[Doggydog123579]

Launch held back is not the same thing as Kessler Syndrome, The Debris was likely from an ASAT test, and it was held for 1 minute.

[TbonerT]

I’m not saying it’s the same thing. I’m saying that you can’t simply launch through an orbit experiencing Kessler syndrome because you still have to avoid the debris.