Overview
- Satellites currently near 550 km will be moved to about 480 km over 2026 using onboard plasma propulsion in a plan coordinated with other operators, regulators and U.S. Space Command.
- SpaceX cites fewer debris objects and fewer planned constellations below 500 km, saying a condensed configuration there reduces the aggregate likelihood of collisions.
- At the lower altitude, natural decay times at solar minimum are expected to drop by more than 80%, from over four years to a few months, according to Starlink engineering VP Michael Nicolls.
- The move follows December events including an anomaly on Starlink‑35956 that vented propellant, tumbled and shed trackable debris, and a reported close approach with Chinese-launched satellites.
- The company expects no meaningful service disruption beyond marginal latency improvements, as international scrutiny of megaconstellations continues in forums such as the U.N. Security Council.