Heads up, space fans! 🚀 This year in 2026, SpaceX's Starlink is dialing down the altitude of about 4,400 satellites from around 550 km to about 480 km. Why? Safety first.
After a glitch in December 2025 sent one satellite tumbling 4 km (it lost contact at 418 km altitude), debris worries shot up. By shifting the fleet lower, Starlink speeds up 'deorbit' – the process by which defunct satellites reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up.
- Faster cleanup: At 550 km, a stranded satellite could linger for over 4 years. At 480 km, cleanup happens within months 👌
- Better traffic control: The 500–600 km belt is getting crowded with new constellations and space junk. Moving down slashes collision risks.
- Solar cycles matter: As the Sun's activity dips toward a solar minimum, the atmosphere thins and drag weakens. Lower orbits bring back more drag, speeding up deorbiting.
With more than 9,000 satellites already in orbit (and two fully out of action), SpaceX is coordinating with US regulators and other operators to avoid space traffic jams.
Bottom line: a simple altitude tweak that makes our skies—and future connectivity—safer and cleaner 🌍✨
Reference(s):
Starlink to lower orbit of about 4,400 satellites in 2026 for safety
cgtn.com
