Starlink lowers orbits of thousands of satellites to reduce collision risks

Starlink will lower the orbits of about 4,400 satellites this year as a safety precaution, according to Vice President of Engineering Michael Nicolls. In an article on XNicolls wrote that the company is “beginning a significant reconfiguration of its satellite constellation,” in which all satellites orbiting approximately 550 kilometers (342 miles) will be lowered to approximately 480 km (298 miles). This decision aims to reduce the risk of collision, by placing the satellites in a region which is less crowded and will allow them to deorbit more quickly in the event of an incident.

“Lowering the satellites results in a condensation of Starlink’s orbits and will increase space security in several ways,” Nicolls wrote, also pointing to the upcoming solar minimum — a period in the Sun’s 11-year cycle when activity is lower — as one of the reasons for the decision. The next solar minimum is expected to occur in the early 2030s. “As the solar minimum approaches, atmospheric density decreases, meaning ballistic decay time increases at a given altitude – a decrease will mean a more than 80% reduction in ballistic decay time at solar minimum, or 4+ years reduced to a few months,” Nicolls wrote.

The announcement comes weeks after Starlink said one of its satellites had experienced an anomaly this created debris and caused it to fall. A few days earlier, Nicolls job about a close call with a batch of satellites that he says were launched from China apparently without any attempt to coordinate with existing satellite operators in space. In its latest announcement, Nicolls added that lowering Starlink’s satellites “will further improve the security of the constellation, particularly with difficult-to-control risks such as uncoordinated maneuvers and launches by other satellite operators.”