SMRTR Science & EngineeringFeb 2, 2026John D. Cook

Satellites have a lot of room

SMRTR summary

Despite animations showing dangerously crowded satellite traffic above Earth, mathematical analysis reveals satellites have abundant space in low Earth orbit (LEO). With approximately 12,500 satellites operating in the LEO region between 160-2000 km altitude, each satellite occupies an average volume of 100 million cubic kilometers. While collision avoidance involves complex factors, the fundamental reality demonstrates that space remains remarkably spacious for current satellite populations.

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