Starlink is quietly moving its satellites closer to Earth and there’s a reason
SpaceX plans to lower Starlink satellites to a safer orbit in 2026. This move aims to reduce collision risks and space debris. Satellites will burn up faster at the end of their life. This decision follows a recent satellite failure. SpaceX is the world's largest satellite operator. The change focuses on safety and sustainability in low Earth orbit.
Most people never think about where satellites sit once they reach space. They simply assume they stay put, doing their job far above the atmosphere. But for companies operating thousands of spacecraft, orbit height is not a fixed choice.
It is a constant calculation. SpaceX has now decided to shift that balance. In 2026, Starlink will begin lowering the orbit of its satellites from around 550 kilometres to about 480 kilometres above Earth. The move is not about faster internet or new services. It is about safety. After a rare satellite failure late last year, the company appears to be taking a slower, more careful look at how crowded low Earth orbit has become.
Starlink wants to lower the orbit of its satellites to make them safer
According to Reuters, all Starlink satellites currently operating near 550 kilometres will be moved down to 480 kilometres over the course of 2026. The change will happen gradually rather than all at once.Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, said the goal is to condense the constellation into a lower and less crowded orbital band. Below 500 kilometres, there are fewer satellites and fewer pieces of tracked debris.
That alone reduces the chance of collisions.Lower orbits also mean satellites fall back to Earth faster at the end of their life, burning up in the atmosphere instead of lingering as space junk.
Why does lower orbit matter for safety
Space around Earth is getting busy. Over the past few years, thousands of satellites have been launched by governments and private companies. Many are clustered in similar altitude ranges.When satellites operate higher up, they stay in orbit longer if something goes wrong.
A dead satellite at 550 kilometres can remain there for years. At 480 kilometres, atmospheric drag pulls objects down much faster.If a satellite fails, it becomes less of a long term hazard. That difference may seem small on paper, but across thousands of spacecraft, it adds up.
The failed Starlink satellite
The decision follows an unusual incident in December. One Starlink satellite experienced what SpaceX described as an anomaly while orbiting at around 418 kilometres.The spacecraft suddenly lost altitude by about four kilometres, suggesting some kind of internal failure or explosion. It also created a small amount of debris and stopped communicating with ground control.While SpaceX stressed that such kinetic accidents are rare, the event highlighted the risks of operating large constellations. Even one malfunctioning satellite can add to congestion in already busy orbital paths.