According to a newly filed disclosure with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), between December and May the company deorbited 472 Starlink satellites — an average of roughly 2.6 satellites per day. This marks a striking uptick compared to the preceding six months, when only 73 satellites were retired.
Starlink satellites are designed with an operational lifespan of approximately five years, after which they are programmed to deorbit and disintegrate during atmospheric reentry. Of the 472 satellites retired during this period, SpaceX stated in its FCC filing that 430 belonged to the first-generation Starlink constellation. Notably, many of these satellites burned up well before completing five full years in orbit. The remaining satellites were part of the newer, second-generation network.
SpaceX has not publicly explained the rationale behind retiring such a large number of satellites in such a short time. But according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who keeps tabs on satellite launches, the Starlink network currently has close to 8,000 satellites in orbit.
McDowell first observed the surge in deorbits back in January, estimating at the time that SpaceX was retiring and burning as many as four or five satellites per day. Since then, the pace has slowed somewhat, though his data indicate that another 200 satellites are still awaiting disposal.
There are now more concerns regarding possible environmental effects as a result of this very high number of satellite retirements. Starlink satellites are engineered to break apart and burn up harmlessly upon reentry, but in February SpaceX acknowledged that some small debris fragments, largely harmless, can occasionally survive and reach the ground. In rare cases, pieces of aluminum weighing up to 2.5 kilograms have been reported to fall to Earth — including one that recently landed near a Canadian farm.
SpaceX maintains that the risk of its satellite debris causing human harm remains “less than one in 100 million,” citing ongoing improvements to satellite design that ensure nearly complete disintegration during reentry. Nevertheless, astronomers and environmental scientists have expressed concern over the chemicals released into the atmosphere as hundreds of satellites burn, warning that they could have unanticipated effects on climate systems and the ozone layer.
In response to these concerns, a coalition of astronomers last year petitioned the FCC to halt further Starlink launches until a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of large satellite constellations could be conducted. The newly Republican-led FCC has not indicated whether it plans to pursue such a review.
For its part, SpaceX has previously stated that the Starlink network was designed with safeguards to minimize any environmental footprint. Yet with the pace of deployments and retirements showing no sign of abating, the debate over their long-term impact on Earth’s atmosphere and environment is far from settled.
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