SpaceX will lower the orbit of over 4,400 Starlink satellites in 2026, in response to China's warnings about security risks and orbital congestion.

SpaceX has announced plans to reconfigure the Starlink satellite constellation, moving over 4,400 satellites to lower orbits by 2026. This decision comes after China expressed concerns regarding safety challenges and orbital congestion caused by the SpaceX project. Lowering the satellites will reduce the risk of collisions and allow for faster deorbiting, due to greater atmospheric drag at lower altitudes. Michael Nicolls, vice president of the Starlink engineering department, emphasized that this move will enhance space safety and reduce latency, thereby improving network performance. Additionally, SpaceX will collaborate with other operators and authorities to coordinate these changes. The recent incident involving a Chinese satellite that came dangerously close to a Starlink satellite highlighted the need for these measures.