safety
Collisions in space are a growing concern. A plan to address it is reigniting a turf war
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CNN Newsource , KVIA ABC-7
· July 22, 2026
· 9 min read
By Jackie Wattles, CNN (CNN) — As the number of satellites orbiting Earth continues to grow , so does the risk of crashes between these spacecraft. Such collisions could create fields of debris, potentially rendering entire areas of orbit useless. Objects in space have crashed, or had near misses...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway But while such incidents remain extremely rare, there are now more than 18,000 active and inactive satellites in orbit — a number that has more than doubled in the past six years alone.
Why this matters in The El Paso
As El Paso residents look up at the night sky, they may not realize the growing risk of collisions in space and the potential consequences for our community. With the number of satellites in low-Earth orbit more than doubling in the past six years, the likelihood of crashes and resulting debris fields increases. This is particularly concerning for El Paso, given its proximity to major military installations and research facilities that rely on satellite technology. The proposed FCC rules, which would require satellite operators to share real-time tracking data, could help mitigate this risk. However, the turf war between the FCC and the Department of Commerce over regulatory authority may impact the implementation of these rules. El Pasoans should pay attention to how this dispute unfolds, as it could affect the city's own investments in space-related research and development, as well as its potential to attract new businesses and jobs in the commercial space industry.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 9 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Jackie Wattles, CNN (CNN) — As the number of satellites orbiting Earth continues to grow , so does the risk of crashes between these spacecraft. Such collisions could create fields of debris, potentially rendering entire areas of orbit useless. Objects in space have crashed, or had near misses...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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