How do so many satellites stay in obit without crashing

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With news of latest push of another 1800 satellite going into space to create another global internet network.

How does so many satellites together with many other satellites stay in orbit without being a gigantic pileup in space?

In: Technology

12 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

1. Space is *big*. Like, really big.
2. Orbits can be planned very precisely so we know where they all are and where they will be, and if we see them getting close to something we can steer them away ahead of time.
3. They do crash more often than you think. Maybe not into another working satellite, but into a tiny piece of trash that can cause damage. Just 2 weeks ago the crane arm on the ISS was hit by debris, causing a hole in the insulation: https://www.space.com/space-station-robot-arm-orbital-debris-strike

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