Starlink to lower satellite orbits in 2026 amid space congestion

SpaceX’s Starlink plans to lower the orbit of thousands of its satellites from about 550 km (342 miles) to 480 km (298 miles) in 2026 to enhance safety amid growing congestion in low Earth orbit. This reconfiguration, announced by Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s VP of engineering, aims to reduce collision risks and long-term debris accumulation by condensing satellite orbits into a less crowded altitude band. Operating at lower altitudes also facilitates faster deorbiting of defunct satellites due to increased atmospheric drag, mitigating the risk of space debris persisting for decades. The move follows a recent incident where a Starlink satellite experienced an in-orbit anomaly, resulting in a small debris release and loss of communication, highlighting the risks of kinetic accidents in crowded orbits. With nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites currently in orbit and the number of satellites worldwide rising sharply due to commercial and governmental deployments, concerns about orbital congestion and collision hazards have intensified. Starlink’s decision