SpaceX announced a phased lowering of the orbits of nearly half of its Starlink satellites in order to reduce the risk of collisions in low Earth orbit.
Today, thousands of satellites and debris objects are circling in this space. Lowering the orbit allows satellites to reenter the atmosphere and burn up faster after the end of their service life, so they do not turn into space junk. This approach reduces the likelihood of accidental collisions and eases the burden on already crowded outer space. It is not only a technological but also an ethical decision, reflecting a growing trend toward responsible use of orbit.
Starlink is a global satellite network that provides internet in the most remote parts of the planet. In total, the company has about 9,400 active spacecraft, which accounts for almost 80% of all satellites in orbit. Experts increasingly say that a systematic approach is needed to manage satellites and fight space debris. Until recently, this problem was more theoretical, but now concrete actions are beginning to address it. And SpaceX is taking a step forward by offering a practical solution.
