New Study Warns of Increased Satellite Collision Risks with 'CRASH Clock'
Can satellites bump into each other? New 'CRASH Clock' study reveals a potential threat in space
The Economic Times
Image: The Economic Times
A recent study from Princeton University highlights the escalating risk of satellite collisions in Earth's orbit, introducing the 'CRASH Clock' concept. As satellite numbers surge, especially from mega-constellations like SpaceX's Starlink, researchers warn that collisions could occur within days if communication is lost during solar storms.
- 01The 'CRASH Clock' measures how quickly satellite collisions could happen without ground control.
- 02Solar storms pose a significant risk by disrupting communication between satellites and their operators.
- 03The number of satellites in orbit has surged by roughly 485% since 2018, with over 11,700 currently active.
- 04Starlink satellites performed over 144,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in just six months.
- 05The timeline for potential collisions has dropped from 164 days to under 72 hours due to increased congestion.
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A study led by Sarah Thiele and colleagues at Princeton University reveals alarming insights into the growing risk of satellite collisions in Earth's orbit. The research introduces the 'CRASH Clock', which estimates how quickly a serious collision could occur if ground teams lose control over their satellites. Under certain conditions, particularly during solar storms that disrupt communication, collisions could happen in as little as 2.8 days. Currently, more than 11,700 satellites are actively orbiting Earth, a 485% increase since the end of 2018. The study highlights that SpaceX's Starlink system conducted over 144,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers between December 2024 and May 2025, indicating the urgency of the situation. The research underscores the potential for a cascading series of collisions, known as Kessler Syndrome, which could severely disrupt global communications and navigation systems.
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The increasing risk of satellite collisions could disrupt global communication and navigation systems, affecting millions of users worldwide.
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