Starlink, the satellite internet arm of SpaceX, plans to lower the operational altitude of its constellation throughout 2026 as part of a major reconfiguration aimed at improving orbital safety. The adjustment follows a rare in-orbit anomaly in late 2025 and responds to growing concerns over congestion and collision risks in low Earth orbit.
Under the plan outlined by Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s vice-president of engineering, satellites currently circling at about 550 km will be gradually lowered to approximately 480 km above Earth’s surface over the coming year. This new configuration is designed to reduce the likelihood of collisions with debris and other spacecraft, as the density of debris and planned constellations is significantly lower below 500 km.
The shift in orbital altitude comes after a Starlink satellite encountered an anomaly at around 418 km late last year, generating a small amount of debris and losing communications, a rare kinetic incident for the network. At nearly 10 000 satellites and counting, Starlink now operates one of the largest commercial constellations in low Earth orbit, intensifying scrutiny of how such vast fleets are managed safely amidst an influx of new space actors.
Lowering the orbit not only situates satellites where there is less congested orbital traffic, but also leverages increased atmospheric drag to hasten the natural re-entry of defunct spacecraft. That can shorten the time spent in orbit after end-of-life, reducing the potential for long-lasting debris. Industry observers have noted that these considerations are becoming more central as companies and governments launch tens of thousands of spacecraft, heightening the risk of cascading collisions in crowded orbital regions.
