According to a research report from GLMS Securities, SpaceX's Starlink has announced the development of a new Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system named Stargaze, which can significantly enhance the safety and sustainability of satellite operations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Compared to traditional ground-based systems, Stargaze's detection capabilities may be improved by several orders of magnitude. In recent years, with the increasing number of satellites in LEO, space traffic congestion and collision risks have become major concerns for the global space community. The limited capacity of LEO makes satellite detection capabilities a short-term focal issue; looking ahead, the SSA system market could become a new highlight in the commercial space industry chain. The main views of GLMS Securities are as follows.
The event occurred on the evening of January 29, 2026, when SpaceX's Starlink announced it had developed a new Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system called Stargaze, designed to significantly improve the safety and sustainability of satellite operations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). On February 3, Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) also established a partnership with Indian space surveillance and intelligence company Digantara Industries to jointly develop SSA tools to support Singapore's national space endeavors.
What is a Space Situational Awareness system? A Space Situational Awareness (SSA) system refers to the knowledge, description, and practice of tracking space objects and their operational environment. SSA data is used to predict conjunctions between objects and alert space operators to potentially hazardous close approaches, enabling collision avoidance measures. In space, debris and meteor showers can both impact satellite operations; consequently, SSA technology has emerged to ensure satellite safety and coordinate space traffic activities in real-time.
Why are Space Situational Awareness systems becoming increasingly important? GLMS Securities points out that the core reason for the growing importance of SSA systems is the "explosive" development of satellite launches in recent years. With the rising number of satellites in LEO, space traffic congestion and collision risks have become significant issues of global concern. Against the backdrop of limited LEO capacity, an increasing number of constellation plans are being submitted worldwide, with their implementation pace potentially accelerating. Factors such as rocket debris lingering in orbit long-term, some operators not sharing trajectory predictions during maneuvers, and anti-satellite tests by certain nations have significantly exacerbated space debris and collision threats. Traditional ground-based radar systems have limited observation frequency and greater uncertainty in orbit prediction, often resulting in delayed warnings, particularly due to space weather influences. In this context, SSA technology, which can markedly improve the safety and sustainability of LEO satellite operations, has naturally garnered significant attention from various countries.
The recent introduction of SpaceX's Stargaze system may safeguard Musk's "Million Satellite Plan." Compared to traditional ground-based systems, Stargaze's detection capability could be enhanced by several orders of magnitude. Stargaze utilizes data collected from nearly 30,000 star trackers, with each tracker conducting continuous observations of nearby objects, ultimately enabling the entire satellite constellation to detect approximately 30 million flyby events daily. After acquiring the data, the system autonomously detects observations of orbital objects, aggregates them, and integrates them into a space traffic management platform capable of identifying potential close approaches between space objects and generating Conjunction Data Messages (CDMs). In terms of screening result time, SpaceX can accomplish this in minutes, compared to the current industry average of several hours.
GLMS Securities believes that SpaceX's recent series of actions—the Stargaze system, the Million Satellite Plan, and the acquisition of xAI—all point towards a grand industrial blueprint: deploying space-based computing power and space-based photovoltaics around the "platform position" offered by the commercial space industry, thereby achieving the goal of "space-based artificial intelligence." Aligning with Musk's vision, this move could also represent a crucial pathway for human civilization to advance towards a Kardashev Scale Type II civilization.
Looking forward, the Space Situational Awareness system market may become a new bright spot in the commercial space industry chain. The year 2026 is poised to be one of acceleration for the commercial space industry. On one hand, space economy participants led by SpaceX are likely to aggressively deploy satellite launch plans; on the other hand, the limited nature of LEO makes satellite detection capabilities a short-term focal issue. In response to this industry trend, China is also placing considerable emphasis on the SSA field. During the "16th Five-Year Plan" period, plans will be formulated to promote the development of space traffic management, tackle key technologies for space debris monitoring, early warning, and removal, lay a solid foundation for gaining initiative in the formulation of international rules for space traffic management, and ensure the safe operation of space infrastructure.
For investment recommendations, the outlook is positive for the significant year of 2026 in the commercial space industry. It is advised to focus on leading players in the US commercial space satellite industry chain and emerging application scenarios such as space-based computing and space-based photovoltaics, including Rocket Lab (RKLB.US), AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.US), EchoStar Communications (SATS.US), Planet Labs PBC (PL.US), and Firefly Aerospace (FLY.US).
Risks include satellite launch progress falling short of expectations, slower-than-anticipated technological development in emerging space markets, intensifying competition in the commercial space sector, and impacts on industry development from geopolitical conflicts.