Space X plans to lower Starlink satellites’ orbital altitude

Space X plans to lower the orbit of all Starlink satellites in 2026, Reuters reports. According to the private space company’s chief technology officer Michael Nicolls, the orbit of the satellites will be lowered from about 550 to 480 kilometers.

The aim is to increase safety in space. Lower orbits mean satellites fall back to Earth faster if something goes wrong, reducing the risk of collisions and space debris.

The decision comes after a Starlink satellite suffered a failure in December that caused a minor explosion and created debris at an altitude of about 418 kilometers.

Space X currently operates nearly 10,000 satellites through Starlink, which is used for broadband connectivity via space. This makes it the world’s largest satellite operator. At the same time, several other players are investing in building similar satellite installations for internet via space.