Close Approaches and Crew-13 Mission Highlight Space Activity
Close satellite approaches and Crew-13's upcoming launch to the ISS are key highlights in today's space news.
| Active satellites | 15,736 |
| Starlink active | 9,985 |
| Catalogued objects | 31,247 |
| Predicted re-entries | 24 |
| Active close approaches | 18 |
| People in space | 10 |
Today, the space community is closely monitoring several near-misses between satellites. Notably, TIANHUI 2-02A and TIANHUI 2-02B came within 0.52 km of each other, marking one of the closest approaches currently tracked. Such events underscore the growing congestion in Earth's orbit, where 31,247 objects are catalogued, including 9,888 pieces of debris. Orbital Radar's Debris Map provides a real-time view of these objects.
Crew-13 Mission to the ISS
NASA is preparing for the launch of Crew-13 to the International Space Station (ISS), a mission that will be pivotal for ongoing research and international collaboration. The mission, scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, will carry a team of astronauts to the ISS, where they will join the current crew of ten. This mission is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to maintain a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit. For details on upcoming launches, visit the Launch Schedule.
What to Watch
In addition to the Crew-13 mission, space enthusiasts should keep an eye on the potential re-entries of 24 satellites, which are predicted soon. The Re-entry Tracker provides updates on these events. Additionally, the peculiar galaxy Arp 78 in Aries, featured in NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, offers a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of galactic structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the risks of satellite close approaches?
When is the Crew-13 mission launching?
📎 Cite this article · data available
Orbital Radar Newsroom. (2026). Close Approaches and Crew-13 Mission Highlight Space Activity. Orbital Radar. https://orbitalradar.com/blog/orbital-briefing-2026-09-30"Close Approaches and Crew-13 Mission Highlight Space Activity." Orbital Radar, 30 September 2026, https://orbitalradar.com/blog/orbital-briefing-2026-09-30.@misc{orbitalradar_orbital_briefing_2026_09_30,
title = {Close Approaches and Crew-13 Mission Highlight Space Activity},
author = {{Orbital Radar}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://orbitalradar.com/blog/orbital-briefing-2026-09-30}}
}
