Starlink satellite deployment. Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX is moving into yet another application in the satellite industry, announcing a new space traffic management platform called Stargaze, where it plans to offer conjunction data to other satellite operators free of charge. 

Stargaze uses data collected from star trackers onboard Starlink satellites. In a Jan. 29 announcement, the company shared it has been running a closed beta with more than a dozen satellite operators sharing ephemeris data and screening for conjunctions. SpaceX said the platform is designed to provide conjunction screening results within minutes. 

SpaceX is planning a wider roll out in which operators that submit their satellite trajectory predictions to the platform will also receive conjunction data messages from Stargaze data, and  ephemeris from other participating operators. 

“By providing this ephemeris sharing and conjunction screening service free of charge, we hope to motivate operators to take similar steps towards ephemeris sharing and safe flight,” SpaceX said in an update on Stargaze.