SpaceX didn't want to cooperate, so the researchers had to figure things out the hard way.
One of the company's Starlink terminals is currently being tested at a remote research station.
Following a self-imposed ban, the U.S. government will now introduce a U.N. resolution in an attempt to ban the dangerous tests worldwide.
AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 is scheduled to launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on September 10.
In addition to the satellites, the U.S. Army also transferred $78 million to the Space Force's budget to cover their costs.
The head of U.S. Space Command condemned the launch of the Russian satellite, describing the move as "irresponsible."
The agency is bringing together experts to build tools that seek to standardize communication between tens of thousands of satellites.
The space junk was created in November 2021 when Russia used a missile to deliberately destroy a defunct satellite.
While U.S. officials are reportedly concerned about military spying, Iran says its latest and most sophisticated satellite will gather environmental data.
The rising number of satellites in Earth orbit means astronomers are having to contend with increasingly cluttered skies. New research could help.
Experts say it's not a coincidence that the two satellites are sharing the same orbit.
Earth Observatory's Image of the Day saw wildfires, flooding in Yellowstone, and phytoplankton blooms last month.
SpaceX's next generation of Starlink satellites could pose an even greater threat to astronomical observations.
The private space company has now completed just two successful orbital launches in seven attempts, which doesn't inspire confidence.
China is increasingly worried about SpaceX's dominance of low Earth orbit, and by extension, the expanding reach of the U.S. in space.
The company claims its satellites will track a single location 12 times per day and at resolutions sharp enough to spot a toaster.
The self-imposed ban on ASAT tests suggests the U.S. is worried about its space-based assets amid growing tensions with Russia.
Satellites are increasingly interfering with optical and radio astronomy, prompting the coordinated response.
China claims the debris came to within 48 feet of its satellite, but the true distance may be impossible to know.
Russia acknowledged the test but claims the International Space Station was never at risk from the ensuing debris cloud.
