Starlink is not as invulnerable as previously thought, according to a team of award-winning scientists in China who recently simulated a space operation targeting the giant constellation.
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Results from the computer simulation showed that China could effectively approach nearly 1,400 Starlink satellites within 12 hours using just 99 Chinese satellites. These could be equipped with lasers, microwaves and other devices to conduct reconnaissance, tracking or other operations.
“The potential military application value of the Starlink mega constellation has been highlighted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In recent years, the militarisation of space has intensified, posing a significant threat to China’s space security. It is particularly important to track and monitor its operational status,” wrote the project team led by Wu Yunhua, director of the aerospace control department at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Their peer-reviewed paper was published on January 3 in the Chinese academic journal Systems Engineering and Electronics.
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has launched more than 6,700 Starlink satellites and is expected to increase that number into the tens of thousands in the coming years.
Tracking such a vast constellation with a small number of satellites was once deemed impossible, involving extremely complex orbital calculations that, even if solved, would be difficult to execute within a short time frame.
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Wu and his colleagues also faced more practical military challenges. For example, Chinese satellites needed to fly close enough to keep Starlink satellites within the effective range of detection equipment for at least 10 seconds, but not too close as to cause accidents.
Lasers and other equipment consume a lot of energy, so scientists also needed to arrange sufficient sun-facing charging time for each Chinese satellite. Manoeuvring the satellites also takes varying amounts of time, which further increases the difficulty of orbital calculations.