SpaceX lowering orbits of 4,400 Starlink satellites for safety's sake
Summary
SpaceX plans to lower about 4,400 Starlink satellites from ~550 km to ~480 km in 2026 to improve space safety amid solar-cycle-driven atmospheric changes. The move aims to reduce ballistic decay time during solar minimum and lower debris and collision risks, affecting roughly half of the nearly 9,400 active Starlink spacecraft.