Orbit Chaos: The Day We Almost Lost Control

A recent scare over Pittsburgh, USA saw two old satellites almost collide, shining a light on the ever-growing problem of space debris. This close call in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) puts the spotlight on how packed things are getting up there and why smart satellite management matters more than ever (since we depend on them for everyday tech).

What happened and how it went down

The incident involved two out-of-service satellites: IRAS (13777) from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite program and GGSE-4 (2828), an experimental U.S. project that took off in 1967. With no control or communication left on these relics, they came within 15 to 30 meters of each other—a real nail-biter (this kind of near miss isn’t something you see every day).

This drama played out over Pittsburgh, a city of about 300,000 residents in the eastern United States. While folks on the ground had no idea what was happening high above, the event reminds us just how intertwined our daily lives are with activities way beyond Earth.

Tracking efforts and keeping space usable

Groups like LeoLabs are on the job tracking objects in orbit to help avoid incidents like this. They currently monitor 14,006 objects and offer an interactive platform for anyone curious about specific items in space. Their work is backed up by New Zealand’s radar systems that can spot debris as tiny as 2 centimeters (yep, really small). LeoLabs points out that these events show why moving satellites out of orbit at the right time is so important for keeping things running smoothly.

The U.S. Space Command is also on the case. They confirmed that the satellites dodged each other and keep track of over 26,000 objects floating above. Their monitoring helps protect around 2,400 active satellites that are key for global communications and other important services.

SpaceX Starlink’s role

In the midst of all this, companies like SpaceX are stepping up to handle the space debris challenge. Their ambitious Starlink project has plans to launch 12,000 satellites—a number that overshadows all satellites ever launched since space began. To cut down on potential issues, SpaceX uses a system that lets satellites use onboard propulsion to exit orbit within months after finishing their jobs. And if the propulsion ever fails, the satellites are set up to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere within one to five years (a much shorter time compared to debris stuck in higher orbits).

SpaceX explains it like this: “At end of life, the satellites will utilize their on-board propulsion system to deorbit over the course of a few months.”

Tackling space junk

Space junk isn’t a new problem—it’s been building up for decades and quietly circling our planet. Every new launch adds another piece to the puzzle of an already busy LEO (which means the odds of satellite collisions keep rising, as LeoLabs warns).

This near-miss above Pittsburgh is a wake-up call. It shows that while managing space debris is definitely doable, it needs clear plans and actions from both governments and private companies. As projects like Starlink push our presence farther into space, it’s up to everyone involved to keep our orbital backyard in check so that future generations can navigate it safely without bumping into long-forgotten relics drifting through the void.