How often does a Starlink satellite deorbit?

The frequency of Starlink satellites returning to Earth is a critical, ongoing process necessary to manage the sheer scale of the orbital network. Current figures suggest that, on average, between one to two Starlink satellites are deorbiting each day in 2025. This is not an infrequent event but a steady, managed part of the constellation’s lifecycle, ensuring that aging or failed units are actively removed from their operational altitude.

# Orbital Turnover

To understand the commitment this requires, one can look at specific timeframes. For instance, in one reported six-month span, SpaceX successfully managed the deorbit of nearly 500 Starlink satellites. This constant removal rate is intrinsic to maintaining the health and stability of the network, especially considering the aggressive deployment schedule SpaceX employs to build out the coverage area. If we take the stated average of $1$ to $2$ deorbits per day and calculate the midpoint, approximately $1.5$ satellites are intentionally brought down daily. Extrapolating that figure across a full year results in roughly 547 controlled deorbit maneuvers annually just to keep pace with expected end-of-life events and early retirement of satellites from their initial deployment orbits. This regular turnover contrasts sharply with older space assets that might linger for decades as potential debris if they failed unexpectedly and lacked an active disposal plan.

# Planned Disposal

When a Starlink satellite completes its mission or develops a fault that prevents continued service, the procedure dictates an active end-of-life maneuver rather than passive orbital decay. The satellites are moved out of their operational shell and directed toward a controlled re-entry path. This process is meticulously planned to target an unpopulated zone, with historical practice pointing toward the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area (SPOUA) for safe disposal. The key distinction here is that the satellite is driven to deorbit, as opposed to simply waiting for atmospheric drag to slowly pull it down over a much longer, indeterminate period.

How often do Starlink satellites fall to Earth?

# Burn Up Design

The engineering behind the deorbit is focused on eliminating orbital debris. SpaceX has put forth a clear commitment regarding the demisability of its spacecraft. The design intent is that the satellite should completely break up and burn up during its passage through the Earth's atmosphere. This means that, ideally, no significant piece of hardware survives the fiery re-entry to strike the Earth's surface or remain as dangerous debris in a lower orbit. This design philosophy addresses significant concerns raised by the addition of large numbers of satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by ensuring the hardware has a built-in mechanism for self-clearing once its operational life ends. The specification demands a high degree of confidence that this burn-up process is successful for every unit.

# Scale Management

The necessity for a satellite to be brought down every single day or two, depending on the exact count, frames the operational complexity of running a megaconstellation. Imagine a system where you are regularly replacing about one-half of one percent of your entire fleet daily just to maintain orbital hygiene and keep the system functional. This high, calculated rate of attrition is what allows the entire constellation to operate within acceptable safety margins defined by space traffic authorities. It moves the management model from one of hoping old hardware stays stable to one of actively retiring hardware on a near-daily schedule, placing significant demands on ground control and autonomous maneuvering systems.

What happens to broken Starlink satellites?

# Contrast Debris

Examining the regular deorbit rate also provides a valuable analytical lens when considering the long-term impact of large satellite fleets on orbital sustainability. For older satellite designs, particularly those launched decades ago, a failure often meant the spacecraft became an object of passive tracking, potentially orbiting for decades or even centuries, depending on the initial altitude. A defunct satellite at a higher altitude can remain a debris risk for a very long time. In contrast, Starlink satellites are generally intended to have a relatively short lifespan in their operational shell—perhaps five to seven years—and upon retirement, they are brought down much more quickly. This difference is stark: a retired Starlink satellite is designed to be gone entirely within months or a couple of years of retirement, whereas a legacy satellite might persist as a static collision hazard for generations. This commitment to active, low-residue disposal sets a high technical expectation for any future system planning to deploy thousands of assets in LEO.