SpaceX will lower approximately 4,400 Starlink satellites to a lower Earth orbit as part of a constellation-wide safety reconfiguration, the company announced, even as it temporarily provides free broadband service to people in Venezuela.
In a Jan. 1 post, Starlink engineering executive Michael Nicolls said the company will move satellites currently orbiting at roughly 550 kilometers down to about 480 kilometers over the course of 2026. The reconfiguration is being coordinated with other satellite operators, regulators, and U.S. Space Command to reduce collision risk and improve space safety.
Nicolls said lowering the satellites will significantly reduce ballistic decay time as solar minimum approaches, when reduced atmospheric density can cause spacecraft to remain in orbit longer. Operating below 500 kilometers places satellites in a region with fewer debris objects and planned constellations, reducing the likelihood of collisions and allowing failed satellites to deorbit more quickly.
Starlink currently operates more than 9,000 satellites worldwide and reports only two nonfunctioning satellites in its fleet. The company said faster deorbiting is a priority in the event of satellite failure to limit long-term orbital risk.
Separately, Starlink announced it is providing free broadband service to the people of Venezuela through February 3 to ensure continued connectivity. According to the company, service credits are being automatically applied to both active and inactive customer accounts, allowing paused or delinquent users to restore service during the period at no cost.
Starlink said customers who already possess a Starlink kit can activate service in Venezuela by selecting a Roam plan. The company noted it is continuing to monitor regulatory conditions and has not yet announced a timeline for local purchase availability, adding that updates will be communicated through official Starlink channels.
The dual announcements highlight Starlink’s expanding role in both orbital infrastructure management and ground-level connectivity during periods of political or social disruption.
