Starlink is not as invulnerable as previously thought, according to a team of award-winning scientists in China who recently simulated a space operation targeting the giant constellation.

Results from the computer simulation showed that China could effectively approach nearly 1,400 Starlink satellites within 12 hours using just 99 Chinese satellites. These could be equipped with lasers, microwaves and other devices to conduct reconnaissance, tracking or other operations.

“The potential military application value of the Starlink mega constellation has been highlighted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In recent years, the militarisation of space has intensified, posing a significant threat to China’s space security. It is particularly important to track and monitor its operational status,” wrote the project team led by Wu Yunhua, director of the aerospace control department at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Their peer-reviewed paper was published on January 3 in the Chinese academic journal Systems Engineering and Electronics.

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has launched more than 6,700 Starlink satellites and is expected to increase that number into the tens of thousands in the coming years.

Tracking such a vast constellation with a small number of satellites was once deemed impossible, involving extremely complex orbital calculations that, even if solved, would be difficult to execute within a short time frame.

Wu and his colleagues also faced more practical military challenges. For example, Chinese satellites needed to fly close enough to keep Starlink satellites within the effective range of detection equipment for at least 10 seconds, but not too close as to cause accidents.

Lasers and other equipment consume a lot of energy, so scientists also needed to arrange sufficient sun-facing charging time for each Chinese satellite. Manoeuvring the satellites also takes varying amounts of time, which further increases the difficulty of orbital calculations.

Despite all the challenges, Wu’s team claims to have developed an unprecedented technology that enables computers at the ground control centre to generate a comprehensive and reliable action plan in less than two minutes.

The method was inspired by the hunting behaviour of whales, which work together in vast waters to channel small fish into their mouths, while ensuring the process takes the shortest amount of time to conserve energy.

Wu’s team developed a new binary artificial intelligence algorithm that allowed Chinese satellites to accurately mimic the whales, and thus “hunt” Starlink.

Wu once received the National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award for developing a technology that significantly enhances the survivability of Chinese spacecraft in extreme situations. According to the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics website, the projects he led have received funding totalling more than 16 million yuan (US$2.2 million) from the Chinese government and military.

The Harbin Institute of Technology also took part in this research. Both universities are under comprehensive sanctions imposed by the US government for their involvement in developing cutting-edge military technology.

China is in the process of building giant satellite constellations similar to Starlink. If these constellations are physically attacked, they may generate a large amount of debris, threatening other space assets, such as the safety of space stations.

According to publicly available information, China and other military powers are developing new types of interceptor satellites equipped with weapons that can disable attacked satellites without generating significant debris.