SpaceX is preparing to deorbit 100 older Starlink satellites

Due to a potential design defect, SpaceX intends to remove roughly 100 of its older Starlink satellites from orbit.

SpaceX said on February 12 that it will undertake controlled descents of around 100 "early-version 1" Starlink satellites due to worries about their potential failure in orbit and inability to maneuver.

SpaceX reported that these satellites were now maneuverable and servicing consumers successfully, but the Starlink team discovered a common fault among this tiny population of satellites that could increase the likelihood of failure in the future. The corporation did not comment on the issue or specify which satellites were affected.

Jonathan McDowell's data show that SpaceX has launched 5,828 Starlink satellites, with 5,438 currently in orbit. The oldest satellites still in orbit are from an original series of version 1 satellites launched in 2019 and 2020 that lacked visors, which were added to later spacecraft to minimize the amount of sunlight they reflect, hence diminishing their brightness. Of all 420 spacecraft, 337 are still in orbit.

SpaceX stated that the satellites being deorbited will gradually decrease their orbits over a six-month period. The business claims that all satellites will maintain mobility and collision avoidance capabilities as they descend. Furthermore, these deorbiting satellites will accept maneuver responsibility for any high-risk collisions in accordance with space safety and sustainability best practices.

The expansion of the Starlink constellation, which is by far the largest in orbit, has sparked discussions about space traffic management and sustainability. There has been a movement for additional regulations to manage satellite growth and debris, as well as to ensure that satellites are deorbited as soon as they reach the end of their useful lifespan.