July 1, 2022

BY ELECTRONIC FILING
Marlene H. Dortch
Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20554

Re: SpaceX Semi-Annual Report

Dear Ms. Dortch:

Pursuant to paragraph 97u of the modification order issued on April 27, 2021, 1 Space
Exploration Holdings, LLC provides the attached semi-annual constellation status report covering
the period from December 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to direct them to me.

Sincerely,

/s/ David Goldman

David Goldman
Senior Director of Satellite Policy

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

1155 F Street, NW
Suite 475
Washington, DC 20004
Email: [email protected]

Attachment

cc: Karl Kensinger

1
See Space Exploration Holdings, LLC, FCC 21-48, ¶ 97u (rel. Apr. 27, 2021).

1155 F St NW, Suite 475, Washington, DC 20004 | phone 202.649.2700 | fax 202.649.2701 | spacex.com
 SPACEX CONSTELLATION STATUS REPORT
December 1, 2021 – May 31, 2022

SpaceX appreciates this opportunity to update the Commission and the public about the
reliability and safety of its satellite constellation. As this report details, SpaceX uses extremely
conservative assumptions that minimize risk and exceed industry standards and approaches by a
massive margin. In its previous report, SpaceX detailed how its maneuver threshold is a full order
of magnitude more sensitive than the industry standard. To minimize non-maneuverable debris,
SpaceX satellites are screened at low altitude shortly after deployment to ensure functionality.
SpaceX also takes an extremely conservative approach when it chooses to de-orbit satellites and
ensures all satellites are fully demisable, exceeding industry standards and causing no calculable
risk to life on the ground. SpaceX’s tightly integrated approach allows it to quickly identify ways
in which it can improve the service, the performance, and the reliability of its satellites.
Accordingly, SpaceX has a bias towards de-orbiting and replacing satellites whenever doing so
will improve service for consumers on the ground or enhance the sustainability of space. Because
of the low altitudes at which these satellites operate, they can be de-orbited quickly.
This conservative approach requires a significant investment in sustainability and
performance. Not only must SpaceX invest in satellites that are more capable and perform more
maneuvers that carry considerable cost to SpaceX, but unlike other operators with less emphasis
on sustainability, SpaceX is willing to deorbit satellites at the first sign of trouble, rather than
waiting for larger issues to develop. SpaceX takes this most costly approach out of an abundance
of caution to best preserve and protect low Earth orbit.
SpaceX volunteered to report on the health of its system because it believes transparency
is critical to sustainable space operations. So far this year, SpaceX has published public updates
on starlink.com/resources specific to “SpaceX’s Approach to Space Sustainability and Safety” as
well as “Starlink Conjunction Avoidance with Crewed Space Stations” which detail our
commitment to keeping space safe for other satellite operators as well as human spaceflight
programs. But SpaceX reiterates that it cannot maintain a sustainable orbital environment
unilaterally and without non-U.S.- firms participating; no operator, and indeed no country, can do
so. SpaceX therefore pleads once again for other operators—including those that have chosen to
license their satellites outside the U.S. and claim not to be bound by U.S. rules, yet want to offer
services here—to provide similar public disclosures about the performance of their satellites. Only
with all operators working together can we truly maintain the space environment for future
operations and human space flight.
Since our last report, SpaceX has conducted 16 launches deploying an additional 764
satellites to its constellation.

1
RESPONSES TO COMMISSION REQUESTS
1. “Number of conjunction events identified for Starlink satellites during the reporting
period, and the number of events that resulted in an action (maneuver or coordination with
another operator), as well as any difficulties encountered in connection with the collision
avoidance process and any measures taken to address those difficulties.”

Events/Maneuvers—SpaceX uses a conservative maneuver threshold an order of magnitude more

sensitive than the industry standard. Specifically, SpaceX satellites will maneuver if the
probability of collision is greater than 1e-5 (1 in 100,000 chance of collision), as opposed to the
industry standard of 1e-4 (1 in 10,000 chance of collision). Using this standard, SpaceX satellites
performed 6,873 maneuvers over the period of this report. These maneuvers have resulted in no
collisions, keeping space free of debris.
For other events, other operators asked SpaceX not to perform a maneuver because those operators
preferred to maneuver their satellites; this circumstance occurred approximately ten times over this
period.
Other Issues—“difficulties encountered in the collision avoidance process and the steps taken to
resolve those difficulties.”
Thirty-Eight SpaceX Satellites Reentered from the Launch on February 3, 2022—On February 3,
2022, SpaceX launched 49 satellites into an orbit with a perigee of approximately 210 km. Every
satellite achieved controlled flight, but due to a geomagnetic storm, the satellites experienced an
increased atmospheric drag approximately 50% higher than all previous launches. As a result,
while SpaceX was able to command 11 of the satellites to a drag-stable attitude sufficient to ride
out the storm, the other 38 satellites reentered the Earth’s atmosphere and demised. 1 Since this
event, SpaceX has updated the flight software of our satellites to accommodate similar space
weather events in the future and is working toward a solution whereby satellites will include an
independent position “beacon” to improve ground antenna pointing.
Russian Anti-Satellite Weapon Activity Precipitated Many Events—The November 2021 Russian
anti-satellite weapon test released thousands of pieces of debris into space, spread over the orbits
of many operational satellites. The SpaceX collision avoidance system was deftly able to adjust
to and accommodate this significant influx of debris, but SpaceX is now maneuvering more for
COSMOS 1408 debris than for any other objects in space. In fact, over the reporting period,
SpaceX satellites maneuvered over 1,700 times for COSMOS 1408 debris.

Operator Contact Information on Space-Track.org—Only a subset of spacecraft on Space-

Track.org have contact information populated by their operator, while many still do not.
Coordination is more challenging when operators fail to provide contact information. To improve
sustainability, all operators should populate their contact information.

1
Because these 38 satellites reentered at the time of deployment and were never operational, we have excluded
them from Table 2, but included them in Table 3 for completeness.

2
2. “Satellites that, for purposes of disposal, were removed from operation or screened from
further deployment at any time following initial deployment, and identifying whether this
occurred less than five years after the satellite began regular operations or were available
for use as an on-orbit replacement satellite.”

Can the satellite still Removed <5 years

Satellites that
maneuver for after beginning
started Deorbit
collision avoidance? operation?
STARLINK-1050 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1125 No Yes
STARLINK-1135 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1192 No Yes
STARLINK-1232 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1241 No Yes
STARLINK-1472 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1483 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1499 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1613 No Yes
STARLINK-1902 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1946 Yes Yes
STARLINK-1988 Yes Yes
STARLINK-2060 No Yes
STARLINK-2148 Yes Yes
STARLINK-2216 Yes Yes
STARLINK-2328 Yes Yes
STARLINK-2352 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3123 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3280 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3307 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3367 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3376 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3377 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3384 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3402 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3403 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3404 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3405 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3406 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3407 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3408 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3409 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3410 Yes Yes

3
STARLINK-3411 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3412 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3413 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3414 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3416 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3417 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3418 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3420 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3422 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3423 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3426 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3427 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3662 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3676 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3693 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3710 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3719 Yes Yes
STARLINK-3731 Yes Yes

4
3. “Satellites that re-entered the atmosphere.”

Re-entered <5 years

Satellite Date of Re-
after beginning
Number entry
operation?
STARLINK-1285 2022-05-09 Yes
STARLINK-80 2022-05-04 Yes
STARLINK-1753 2022-04-30 Yes
STARLINK-1947 2022-04-30 Yes
STARLINK-2172 2022-04-30 Yes
STARLINK-2183 2022-04-30 Yes
STARLINK-1870 2022-04-24 Yes
STARLINK-2176 2022-04-23 Yes
STARLINK-2246 2022-04-23 Yes
STARLINK-1951 2022-04-22 Yes
STARLINK-3676 2022-04-18 Yes
STARLINK-3693 2022-04-18 Yes
STARLINK-1754 2022-04-17 Yes
STARLINK-3662 2022-04-17 Yes
STARLINK-3710 2022-04-17 Yes
STARLINK-3719 2022-04-16 Yes
STARLINK-1743 2022-04-10 Yes
STARLINK-1889 2022-04-09 Yes
STARLINK-1919 2022-04-08 Yes
STARLINK-1182 2022-04-08 Yes
STARLINK-1859 2022-04-03 Yes
STARLINK-1831 2022-04-02 Yes
STARLINK-3731 2022-04-01 Yes
STARLINK-1050 2022-03-27 Yes
STARLINK-1684 2022-03-27 Yes
STARLINK-1439 2022-03-13 Yes
STARLINK-2177 2022-03-13 Yes
STARLINK-1406 2022-03-07 Yes
STARLINK-1985 2022-03-07 Yes
STARLINK-2313 2022-03-02 Yes
STARLINK-1379 2022-02-16 Yes
STARLINK-1064 2022-02-11 Yes
STARLINK-1668 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3152 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3163 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3164 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3169 2022-02-10 Yes

5
STARLINK-3170 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3186 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3187 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3188 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3220 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3221 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3222 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3223 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3224 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3367 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3376 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3377 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3384 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3402 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3403 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3404 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3405 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3406 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3407 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3408 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3409 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3410 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3411 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3412 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3413 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3414 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3416 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3417 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3418 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3420 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3422 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3423 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3426 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-3427 2022-02-10 Yes
STARLINK-1751 2022-02-09 Yes
STARLINK-1599 2022-02-04 Yes
STARLINK-2173 2022-02-04 Yes
STARLINK-1786 2022-01-29 Yes
STARLINK-1840 2022-01-29 Yes
STARLINK-1945 2022-01-29 Yes
STARLINK-1988 2022-01-29 Yes

6
STARLINK-1853 2022-01-28 Yes
STARLINK-43 2022-01-27 Yes
STARLINK-2201 2022-01-24 Yes
STARLINK-2202 2022-01-24 Yes
STARLINK-2200 2022-01-23 Yes
STARLINK-2208 2022-01-23 Yes
STARLINK-1204 2022-01-21 Yes
STARLINK-2261 2022-01-16 Yes
STARLINK-2281 2022-01-16 Yes
STARLINK-2287 2022-01-16 Yes
STARLINK-2289 2022-01-16 Yes
STARLINK-2302 2022-01-16 Yes
STARLINK-2297 2022-01-11 Yes
STARLINK-2318 2022-01-10 Yes
STARLINK-2316 2022-01-10 Yes
STARLINK-1345 2022-01-09 Yes
STARLINK-1535 2022-01-08 Yes
STARLINK-2205 2021-12-30 Yes
STARLINK-2207 2021-12-30 Yes
STARLINK-3280 2021-12-28 Yes
STARLINK-2206 2021-12-27 Yes
STARLINK-2204 2021-12-26 Yes
STARLINK-1188 2021-12-25 Yes
STARLINK-1023 2021-12-20 Yes
STARLINK-1051 2021-12-20 Yes
STARLINK-1943 2021-12-20 Yes
STARLINK-2259 2021-12-20 Yes
STARLINK-2311 2021-12-20 Yes
STARLINK-2199 2021-12-17 Yes
STARLINK-2203 2021-12-17 Yes
STARLINK-2079 2021-12-14 Yes
STARLINK-1097 2021-12-13 Yes
STARLINK-1674 2021-12-12 Yes
STARLINK-1757 2021-12-04 Yes
STARLINK-3123 2021-12-01 Yes

7
 4. “Satellites for which there was a disposal failure, including a discussion of any assessed
cause of the failure and remedial actions.”

Under the conditions of its license, SpaceX must provide an additional report if, during any
continuous one-year period that begins after April 2, 2021, there are three or more satellite disposal
failures. This section has been expanded to include such a special report.

Is SpaceX in
contact with the
satellite and
Satellite
Cause Remedial Action does it have Date
Number
attitude control
for collision
avoidance?
Sensitive
Two independent
components have
STARLINK- failures in
been identified and No 4/12/2022
2060 attitude control
removed from
system
future designs
While deorbiting, Sensitive
fell into a non- components have
STARLINK-
recoverable been identified and No 5/20/2022
1322
attitude due to a removed from
failed actuator future designs
While deorbiting, Sensitive SpaceX is in
fell into a non- components have contact with the
STARLINK-
recoverable been identified and satellite, but it 6/22/2022
1339
attitude due to a removed from does not have
failed actuator future designs attitude control