SpaceX is planning to retire its first-generation orbit 100 satellites. The company made this decision due to a “production defect” that could eventually lead to a complete failure of the devices.
As the satellites gradually decline, they will enter the denser layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, where they will burn up completely through aerodynamic braking. SpaceX assures that the risk to people on Earth is minimal, as the friction will destroy the devices before they reach the surface.
Starlink subscribers will not be affected by this retirement, as there are still more than 5400 operational satellites remaining in orbit. The company emphasizes that this decision is also in line with its commitment to long-term space safety. With the significant growth in the network’s size in recent years, concerns have been raised about potential collisions with other objects or the risk of debris falling to Earth.
However, SpaceX states that they had already considered these risks when designing Starlink. Each satellite is equipped with an autonomous collision prevention system and ion engines for maneuvering. Even if the engines fail, atmospheric friction will cause a gradual descent and combustion within 5 years or less.
The retirement process will take approximately 6 months and will follow a pre-planned trajectory while maintaining maneuverability. Previously, SpaceX has already removed 406 devices from orbit, including those with equipment failures. Of these, 17 are currently unable to maneuver and are undergoing a passive orbital decay. However, their movements are closely monitored to minimize the risk of collision with the operational satellites,” stated the official statement. “As for the remaining 95% of objects, they have already left orbit.”