Shortly after China criticized the Starlink satellite constellation for occupying satellite orbital resources and increasing the risk of space collisions during an informal meeting at the United Nations Security Council, SpaceX announced that it would reconfigure the Starlink satellite constellation in 2026, moving more than 4,400 satellites to a lower orbital region with fewer space debris and other planned satellite constellations, to reduce the risk of collision and allow satellites to deorbit and fall back to Earth faster after their service life ends. Michael Nicolls, Vice President of the Starlink program, said on social media on Friday that to improve space safety, this year the satellites in the Starlink constellation orbiting at an altitude of about 550 kilometers will be lowered to an orbit of about 480 kilometers. The International Space Station operates at an altitude of 400 kilometers, while the Tiangong space station's orbital altitude ranges from 340 to 450 kilometers.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853271474131978/
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