SpaceX's Starlink plans to lower the orbits of about 4,400 satellites from 342 miles to 298 miles this year to enhance space safety amid growing orbital congestion. The move, announced by engineering vice president Michael Nicholls, aims to reduce collision risks and speed up deorbiting during the approaching solar minimum. It follows recent near-misses and a satellite anomaly, highlighting challenges in low-Earth orbit.
On January 1, 2026, Michael Nicholls, vice president of Starlink engineering at SpaceX, announced on X that the company is undertaking a significant reconfiguration of its satellite constellation. Approximately 4,400 satellites—nearly half of Starlink's more than 9,000 operational ones—will gradually lower their altitude from about 342 miles (550 kilometers) to 298 miles (480 kilometers) over the course of 2026 using onboard plasma engines.
The primary goal is to boost space safety in an increasingly crowded orbit, where nearly 12,000 active satellites currently operate, a number expected to grow with expansions by rivals like Amazon's Project Kuiper and China's Thousand Sails. Nicholls explained that the lower altitude places satellites in a less cluttered region below 500 kilometers, reducing the overall likelihood of collisions despite denser packing in choreographed orbital lanes. "Lowering the satellites results in condensing Starlink orbits, and will increase space safety in several ways," he wrote, including mitigating risks from uncoordinated maneuvers by other operators.
This decision comes amid recent incidents. In early December 2025, a Starlink satellite passed within 200 meters of a newly launched Chinese satellite, which Nicholls attributed to negligence at China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and a lack of coordination. Just weeks before the announcement, one Starlink satellite experienced an anomaly, tumbling from 260 miles and creating debris, though it poses no threat to the International Space Station and will disintegrate on reentry.
The timing aligns with the approaching solar minimum, following the sun's activity peak in 2024, expected around the early 2030s. During this phase, reduced solar activity lowers atmospheric density, extending satellites' orbital lifespan due to less drag. At the current altitude, a failed satellite's ballistic decay time could exceed four years; lowering it reduces this to a few months, ensuring quicker deorbiting and minimizing space junk.
Beyond safety, the change offers performance benefits. Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO, noted on X that the lower orbit shrinks beam diameter for a given antenna size, enabling service to higher customer densities among Starlink's 9 million users and slightly improving latency. SpaceX launched over 165 Falcon 9 missions in 2025, with nearly three-quarters deploying Starlink satellites, underscoring the constellation's rapid growth.
