Starlink lowers over 1,600 satellites in Orbits, better signal for users

Starlink subscribers should see lower latency and better signal quality. The company has started moving satellites to lower orbits.

Astronomer and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell reported that a large group of Starlink satellites is descending. This shortens the distance for signals to reach Earth.

The satellites were at 550 kilometres. Now 652 satellites are at 480-kilometre orbits. Another 972 satellites are moving down to that level.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk replied that the change means tighter beams and better signal quality.

In January the company said it would lower all 4,400 satellites from the 550-kilometre range to 480 kilometres during 2026. The main goal is to improve space safety. Lower orbits reduce the time for retired satellites to deorbit and burn up. There is also less debris and fewer planned constellations below 500 kilometres. This lowers the risk of collisions.

The lower orbits also cut latency. Musk has aimed for Starlink latency under 20 milliseconds. In some parts of the US latency is already at 20 milliseconds according to company data.

McDowell said some Starlink satellites reached the lower 480-kilometre orbit possibly from 2024. He stated there are now 2,926 satellites in the higher orbit and 3,827 in the 480-kilometre range.

Data shows the number of satellites at 480 kilometres has grown each year from 2023 to 2026.

Regulations allow some flexibility. The International Telecommunications Union permits deviation of up to 70 kilometres from the notified altitude. An FCC order from November 2022 did not object to second-generation Starlink satellites below 500 kilometres.

In January the FCC gave partial approval for SpaceX to offer gigabit speeds with next-generation satellites. These can orbit as low as 340 kilometres.

The company plans to launch next-generation V3 satellites late in the fourth quarter. This depends on Starship rocket progress.

Current data shows more than 8,000 Starlink satellites in operational orbits. Nearly 2,000 others are in retirement or moving between orbits.