NASA is quietly helping satellite firms avoid catastrophic collisions

NASA has been quietly helping select satellite companies avoid catastrophic collisions in orbit – for a price.

Documents obtained by New Scientist show that in September, NASA renewed an agreement with satellite imagery company Maxar Technologies to help protect four of the firm’s WorldView satellites. The spacecraft collect high-resolution images for customers including the US Department of Defense and Google Earth.

According to the documents, NASA analysts will predict close approaches with other spacecraft or orbital debris, and provide Maxar with timely warnings, allowing the firm to move its…