SpaceX announced this week that it will voluntarily bring down about 100 of its first-generation Starlink satellites, which provide broadband Internet from low-Earth orbit, as part of its commitment to “space sustainability.”
The satellites are presently operational and serving Internet customers. However, in a statement, the company said, “The Starlink team identified a common issue in this small population of satellites that could increase the probability of failure in the future.”
The company said it is being proactive in deciding to bring down satellites that are currently operational.
“While this proactive approach comes at the cost of losing satellites that are serving users effectively, we believe it is the right thing to do to keep space safe and sustainable—SpaceX encourages all satellite owners and operators to safely de-orbit satellites before they become non-maneuverable,” the statement said.
It’s not exactly front-page news, but it’s exactly stories like this that signal that we truly are in a new space age! And aside from the fact that this is unprecedented in human history, the behind-the-scenes tech that enables this is simply mind-blowing.