SpaceX to Adjust Starlink Satellite Orbits for Enhanced Safety

In response to an incident where a Starlink satellite exploded and another narrowly missed an accident with a Chinese satellite, SpaceX has announced plans to adjust the orbits of thousands of its satellites to enhance safety measures.

SpaceX will lower approximately 4,400 of its Starlink satellites from an altitude of around 550 kilometers to about 480 kilometers. This change is expected to occur over the upcoming months as part of efforts to boost safety.

By decreasing the altitude, these satellites will return to Earth more swiftly in the event of malfunctions or upon reaching the end of their operational life. Lowering satellites also aims to reduce the risk of collisions, as fewer debris and satellite constellations populate the space below 500 kilometers.

Currently, more than 9,000 Starlink satellites are active in low Earth orbit, which spans altitudes from 160 to 2,000 kilometers. As many as 70,000 satellites could be operating in this orbital region by the decade's end if trends in private and governmental satellite initiatives continue.

SpaceX has already conducted over 160 launches using its Falcon 9 rockets, dedicating more than 120 of these missions to expanding its Starlink network. The satellite internet service now caters to over 9.25 million subscribers across more than 155 countries.