SpaceX Lowers 4400 Starlink Satellites After Close Call with Chinese Satellite

• SpaceX was forced to lower 4400 Starlink satellites to a 480 km orbit from 550 km after a close approach incident with a Chinese satellite.
• The incident, reported by Chinese researchers, involved a Starlink satellite and a Chinese high-resolution Earth imaging satellite passing within 200 meters.
• Lowering satellites to a 480 km orbit improves space safety by allowing defunct satellites to re-enter Earth's atmosphere faster, reducing debris.
• Mega-constellations like Starlink pose a growing concern for space safety due to increased collision risks and complex traffic management.
• The study warns that simultaneously lowering 4400 satellites would be the largest in-orbit maneuver, creating a high-risk situation for months.

Why It Matters: SpaceX lowered 4400 Starlink satellites after a near-collision, highlighting mega-constellations' space safety challenges.