Starlink Plans 2026 Satellite Orbit Reduction to Improve Safety

SpaceX’s Starlink will lower the orbits of its satellites from around 550 km to 480 km throughout 2026, according to Michael Nicolls, Starlink engineering VP. The move aims to improve space safety by reducing the risk of collisions and debris. The decision follows a December incident where one satellite at 418 km experienced an anomaly, producing minor debris and losing communication. Lowering satellite orbits condenses Starlink’s constellation, decreasing collision probability below 500 km. With Earth’s orbit increasingly crowded by thousands of satellites for broadband and other services, Starlink, now the world’s largest satellite operator, seeks to maintain safer operations.