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SpaceX is inviting satellite operators to share current orbital ephemerides and maneuver information through its free Space Safety platform. The service uses Stargaze, SpaceX’s space-situational-awareness system, to screen submitted trajectories against operator data and Starlink’s optical observations, then return conjunction analysis that operators can use to coordinate collision-avoidance actions.
What SpaceX announced
A Starlink update dated January 29, 2026, says Stargaze conjunction data will be available to the broader satellite-operator community at no charge through SpaceX’s space-traffic-management platform. The offer is aimed at spacecraft operators, not casual public users, and participation is not described as a legal requirement. SpaceX is asking other operators to contribute data so that more spacecraft can be assessed using current, mutually available information.
SpaceX describes the service as an operator-only workflow: participants can upload ephemerides, bring trajectory files from other systems, and receive conjunction screening and prediction analysis. The company says results can return within a minute, although that is a SpaceX service claim rather than an independently published benchmark.
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SpaceX characterizes the policy as part of a broader transparency effort: “SpaceX is striving to be the world’s most open and transparent satellite operator, and we encourage other operators to join us in sharing orbital data and keeping the public and governments updated with detailed information about operations and practices.”
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How Stargaze screening works
Two complementary data sources
An operator submits a definitive trajectory or a hypothetical trajectory for a spacecraft. The platform screens that trajectory against data submitted by participating operators and against observations generated by Stargaze’s optical-sensor network.
SpaceX’s current Space Safety service page claims that Stargaze uses 30,000 optical sensors and tracks 50% of objects with a perigee below 600 kilometers. Those are vendor-published figures, accessed in 2026, and have not been presented as an independently audited measurement.
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The operator workflow
- Submit a trajectory. Upload a definitive ephemeris for an operating spacecraft or a hypothetical trajectory for a proposed maneuver.
- Run conjunction screening. The service compares the trajectory with operator-submitted ephemerides and Stargaze optical observations.
- Review the result. Operators can inspect trajectory metadata, download trajectories in multiple reference frames, and use conjunction data messages (CDMs) for coordination.
- Coordinate and update. Operators use the results to investigate a possible close approach, exchange updated data, and plan or confirm a maneuver through their normal flight-dynamics process.
The trajectory documentation identifies Stargaze-derived trajectories with the state-source label spacex_optical. It also says hypothetical trajectories are intended for one-off maneuver screening, rather than as a substitute for maintaining an operator’s authoritative ephemeris.
Starlink’s own update cadence
SpaceX documentation says Starlink uploads an ephemeris for every satellite roughly once every 60 minutes with a seven-day prediction horizon. The same documentation notes that cadence and horizon can change with operations, so they should be treated as current operating guidance rather than a permanent guarantee.
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Why reciprocal sharing can reduce collision uncertainty
Conjunction calculations depend on where each object is expected to be, how quickly that expectation changes, and how uncertain the estimate is. Position and velocity data alone are not enough: covariance information describes the uncertainty around the predicted state, while planned-maneuver information explains why a spacecraft may depart from an earlier prediction.
If one operator keeps its latest ephemeris private or supplies an outdated maneuver state, another operator may calculate a risk using a wider or inaccurate uncertainty model. Sharing current ephemerides and covariance data gives both sides a more consistent basis for deciding whether a close approach requires investigation or action.
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SpaceX says it shares propagated ephemerides and covariance data on Space-Track.org and encourages other operators to do the same. Stargaze adds optical observations and faster screening to that shared picture; it does not remove the submitting operator’s responsibility to provide accurate data, evaluate warnings, and coordinate maneuvers.
Is Stargaze free, and who can use it?
| Question | What SpaceX’s published material says |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free for participating spacecraft operators. |
| Access | An operator-only service; organizations are directed to contact SpaceX’s onboarding team. |
| What must be supplied | Trajectory or ephemeris data, with accurate state and uncertainty information needed for useful screening. |
| Who receives conjunction data | SpaceX says Stargaze conjunction data will be made available free to the broader satellite-operator community through its space-traffic-management platform. |
| Consumer access | The material describes an operator workflow, not a public consumer tracking application. |
Stargaze and Space-Track are complementary
Stargaze should not be interpreted as a replacement for Space-Track or for an operator’s own flight-dynamics systems. SpaceX’s stated approach is reciprocal: publish and exchange ephemerides through established channels while using Stargaze’s optical observations and rapid screening as an additional source of information.
| Capability | Stargaze Space Safety platform | Space-Track sharing described by SpaceX |
|---|---|---|
| Primary data described | Operator-submitted trajectories combined with Stargaze optical observations. | SpaceX says it shares propagated ephemerides and covariance data. |
| Screening speed | SpaceX says results can return within a minute. | No equivalent latency is stated in the material described here. |
| Maneuver analysis | Hypothetical trajectories support one-off maneuver screening; CDMs support coordination. | SpaceX’s statement concerns data sharing, not a specific maneuver-screening workflow. |
| Coverage information | SpaceX claims 30,000 optical sensors and tracking of 50% of objects below 600 km perigee. | No comparable coverage figure is supplied. |
| Formats and APIs | Trajectory metadata and downloads in multiple reference frames are documented; specific API limits are not stated here. | Not specified in SpaceX’s announcement. |
How an operator can participate
- Contact SpaceX’s onboarding team to confirm eligibility and obtain the current access process.
- Prepare authoritative data. Gather current ephemerides, covariance information, spacecraft identifiers, and planned-maneuver details that other operators need to interpret a conjunction.
- Submit a definitive or hypothetical trajectory. Use a definitive trajectory for routine monitoring and a hypothetical one when testing a proposed maneuver.
- Inspect metadata and outputs. Check the state source, reference frame, time span, and uncertainty values before treating a result as operationally meaningful.
- Coordinate with the other operator. Use the available CDM information and exchanged updates to resolve the event, then upload a revised ephemeris after any maneuver.
Important limits and practical cautions
- Sensor and coverage figures are SpaceX claims. The 30,000-sensor count and 50% below-600-kilometer figure should not be read as an independent performance certification.
- “Free” does not mean automatic access. Operators still need onboarding and must meet the platform’s participation requirements.
- Predictions age quickly. Starlink’s roughly hourly uploads and seven-day horizon illustrate the value of frequent updates, but the documentation says operational conditions can change those settings.
- Optical observations have a supporting role. Stargaze can add measurements and screening speed, but operators remain responsible for their own ephemeris quality, covariance modeling, maneuver decisions, and communications.
- No universal accuracy guarantee is stated. A return time of under one minute describes delivery of screening results, not a promise that every conjunction prediction has the same uncertainty or resolution.
What the announcement means for satellite safety
SpaceX is turning Stargaze from an internal Starlink capability into a no-cost screening resource for participating operators. The safety benefit depends on reciprocity: more operators supplying current trajectories and uncertainty data gives the platform a more complete picture, while Stargaze’s optical observations can expose discrepancies that an operator-only data set might miss.
For operators, the practical message is straightforward: join if eligible, keep ephemerides and covariance data current, test proposed maneuvers with hypothetical trajectories, and treat every automated conjunction result as an input to—not a replacement for—human flight-dynamics and coordination decisions.
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