READ HIGHLIGHTS 

According to NASA, there are presently 25,000 objects in orbit that are being tracked.

There were 1,469 operating Starlink satellites according to SpaceX.

People can get high-speed Internet using satellite technology.

WHY IN NEWS 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as well as some big corporations, have expressed reservations about SpaceX's proposal to deploy around 30,000 satellites for its Starlink service.  Elon Musk's SpaceX has asked approval for a 2nd network of 30,000 satellites after previously receiving approval for roughly 12,000 satellites to provide broadband Internet.  ' NASA is concerned about the potential for a considerable increase in the frequency of conjunction occurrences, as well as prospective repercussions on NASA's scientific and manned exploration projects,' the agency wrote to the FCC. 

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According to NASA, there are presently 25,000 objects on orbit, with roughly 6,100 of them falling below 600 kilometres. It went on to say that SpaceX's Gen2 extension 'would quite treble the number of monitored items in orbiting and much more than 5 the number of components below 600 kilometres.' Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysicist who was part of an American Astronomical Society group looking at the effects of satellites on astronomy, said: 'We've been worried about the high number of satellites obstructing astronomical observations... I believe we will need more experience with the thousands of operational satellites before ramping up to the tens of thousands.' A request for comment from SpaceX was not immediately returned.

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On January 15, Musk stated that SpaceX has 1,469 Starlink satellites operating and 272 on their way to functional positions. Amazon, which has vowed to pay at least $10 billion (approximately Rs. 74,290 crore) on Project Kuiper to create 3,236 similar satellites, and Dish Network both expressed concerns to the FCC about SpaceX's proposal. According to Amazon, 'at least hundreds—and perhaps more than ten thousand' SpaceX satellites may operate at same altitudes as the Kuiper System under SpaceX's proposal. It cautioned that 'the consequence of this orbital overlap on the Kuiper System would be a severe increase in hazards and other costs,' and requested the FCC to apply 'reasonable limitations.' While satellite technology is incredibly expensive to deploy, it can give high-speed Internet to those who live in remote or hard-to-reach areas where fibre optic cables and cell towers are not available. When hurricanes or other natural catastrophes impede communication, the technology might prove a lifesaver.