Starlink plans to reconfigure its satellite constellation in 2026. Specifically, it will lower satellites currently orbiting at about 550 km to roughly 480 km. The transition will take place gradually over the year. As a result, the move is intended to improve safety in low Earth orbit. Moreover, the lower altitude is expected to reduce long-term risks linked to congestion.
Safety concerns prompt the move
This decision follows an incident disclosed in December involving a satellite anomaly. At that time, the spacecraft lost communication and generated a small amount of debris at an altitude of 418 km. Subsequently, the satellite dropped about four kilometers, suggesting that an onboard explosion may have occurred. Although such kinetic accidents remain rare, the event underscored growing concerns about orbital debris.
Lowering the satellites is expected to condense orbital paths. Consequently, operating below 500 km should reduce the number of debris objects and planned constellations in the same region. As a result, the overall likelihood of collisions is expected to decline.
Rising congestion in Earth’s orbit
Meanwhile, the number of spacecraft circling Earth has risen sharply in recent years. As companies and countries race to deploy large satellite networks, orbital crowding has become a major challenge. Therefore, managing collision risks has gained urgency across the space sector. Starlink, which operates nearly 10,000 satellites providing broadband services worldwide, remains a central player in these safety efforts.