WEB DESK: Starlink plans to adjust the altitude of its satellite fleet in 2026 by moving spacecraft currently operating at about 550 kilometers above Earth down to roughly 480 kilometers, according to Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering.
The move is intended to reduce risks in Earth’s increasingly crowded orbital environment. Nicolls said lowering the satellites will help improve overall space safety, as fewer debris objects and active satellite constellations operate below the 500-kilometer mark, decreasing the chances of collisions.
The announcement follows an incident disclosed by Starlink in December, when one of its satellites malfunctioned while orbiting at around 418 kilometers. The failure produced a limited amount of debris and caused the spacecraft to lose communication. The satellite rapidly dropped about four kilometers in altitude, indicating a possible internal explosion an uncommon event for the company’s network.
Global activity in space has surged in recent years, with governments and private companies deploying tens of thousands of satellites for internet access, communications, and Earth observation.
Originally focused on rocket launches, SpaceX has since become the world’s largest satellite operator through Starlink. The constellation now consists of nearly 10,000 satellites providing broadband services to individuals, businesses, and government users worldwide.
