TL;DR
Starlink announced it will lower all satellites in its ~550 km shell to about 480 km over 2026, affecting roughly 4,400 spacecraft. The move is being coordinated with other operators, regulators and USSPACECOM to reduce orbital collision risk and shorten ballistic decay times during the upcoming solar minimum.
What happened
Michael Nicolls, writing on behalf of Starlink, said the company will reconfigure part of its constellation by lowering every satellite currently in the ~550 km orbital shell down to about 480 km over the course of 2026. The operation covers roughly 4,400 satellites and is being carried out in close coordination with other satellite operators, regulators and USSPACECOM. Starlink described the goal as improving space safety: moving the shell inward will compress the constellation’s orbital spacing, reduce the number of debris objects and planned constellations encountered below 500 km, and materially shorten ballistic decay times during the approaching solar minimum. Starlink also noted its fleet reliability—about 9,000 operational satellites with only two that are nonfunctional—while saying faster natural deorbiting of failed satellites is an important safety objective.
Why it matters
- Lowering the orbital shell cuts ballistic decay times by more than 80% during solar minimum, shrinking years-long decay to months and reducing long-lived debris.
- Fewer debris objects and planned constellations exist below 500 km, which Starlink says lowers aggregate collision likelihood for the moved shell.
- A coordinated approach with other operators, regulators and USSPACECOM aims to manage traffic and reduce risks from uncoordinated maneuvers or launches.
- Quicker natural deorbit of failed spacecraft reduces the window during which dysfunctional satellites could become collision hazards.
Key facts
- Affected altitude change: from approximately 550 km down to approximately 480 km.
- Number of satellites in the shell being lowered: about 4,400.
- Timing: the reconfiguration will take place over the course of 2026.
- Coordination: Starlink says the shell lowering is tightly coordinated with other operators, regulators and USSPACECOM.
- Ballistic decay reduction: lowering the shell will result in more than an 80% reduction in ballistic decay time during solar minimum (example: over 4 years reduced to a few months).
- Debris context: the number of debris objects and planned constellations is significantly lower below 500 km, per Starlink.
- Fleet reliability: Starlink reported over 9,000 operational satellites and only two dead satellites in the fleet.
- Stated objective: improve overall safety of the constellation, especially against risks such as uncoordinated maneuvers and external launches.
What to watch next
- Progress of the shell-lowering campaign across 2026 and any published milestones or completion dates.
- Responses and coordination details from other satellite operators and regulators regarding traffic management.
- Potential service effects or operational impacts on users: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Ballistic decay time: The time it takes for an unpropelled object in orbit to lose altitude and reenter the atmosphere due to drag and other forces.
- Solar minimum: A phase of the roughly 11-year solar cycle when solar activity, such as sunspots and solar radiation, is at a relative low.
- Deorbit: The process of lowering a satellite’s orbit so it reenters the atmosphere and burns up or otherwise is removed from orbit.
- USSPACECOM: United States Space Command, a U.S. military organization involved in coordinating space operations and situational awareness.
Reader FAQ
How many Starlink satellites will be moved?
About 4,400 satellites in the ~550 km shell are slated to be lowered to ~480 km over 2026.
Why is Starlink lowering these satellites?
Starlink says the move will improve space safety by shortening ballistic decay times in solar minimum and reducing collision risk below 500 km.
Who is coordinating the move?
Starlink says the shell lowering is being tightly coordinated with other operators, regulators and USSPACECOM.
Will users see service interruptions during the move?
Not confirmed in the source.
Michael Nicolls @michaelnicollsx Starlink is beginning a significant reconfiguration of its satellite constellation focused on increasing space safety. We are lowering all @Starlink satellites orbiting at ~550 km to ~480…
Sources
- Starlink satellites being lowered from 550 km to 480 km
- SpaceX to Lower Thousands of Starlink Satellites in 2026
- Recent Posts – NASA Spaceflight Forum
- Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy
Related posts
- OpenAI Bets Heavily on Audio While Silicon Valley Moves Beyond Screens
- DHS Says Its Own-Certified REAL ID May Be Unreliable to Prove Citizenship
- Public domain 2026: Betty Boop, Pluto, and Nancy Drew set free