Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet arm, announced plans to lower all its satellites orbiting at 550 km to 480 km over the course of 2026, aiming to enhance space safety and reduce collision risks.
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Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, said the reconfiguration will condense Starlink’s orbital network, decreasing the number of debris objects and minimizing potential collisions. “The number of debris objects and planned satellite constellations is significantly lower below 500 km, reducing the aggregate likelihood of collision,” he noted on social media platform X.
The move follows a recent incident in December when a Starlink satellite at 418 km experienced an anomaly, generating a small amount of debris and losing communications. The satellite, part of the nearly 10,000-strong constellation, quickly fell four kilometers in altitude, suggesting a minor onboard explosion.
With tens of thousands of satellites now orbiting Earth for communications, broadband, and Earth imagery, the risk of collisions has risen sharply. Starlink, which has become the world’s largest satellite operator, said lowering orbits is a proactive step to make space safer while continuing to provide broadband internet services to consumers, governments, and businesses worldwide.
