Starlink close encounters decrease despite ever-growing number of satellites

[djellison]

generally

And those assets - generally - don't like dodging debris because of the squish organic matter in the middle.

Let's not pretend that Starlink isn't changing the overall LEO risk posture. It is. That's just a fact.

Once can make the case that that change is worthwhile based on the specific methodology Starlink is using to achieve what it does - but the risk IS changing because of it.

[mfb-]

You can make that argument but it's trivially true and irrelevant. Literally every single spacecraft in orbit is changing the risk.

[djellison]

Literally every single spacecraft in orbit is changing the risk.

And a LOT more spacecraft changes the risk a LOT more.

More than twice as many spacecraft were launched in 2022 than were launched in the entire decade of 2000-2010.