SpaceX said it will move about 4,400 Starlink satellites to a lower orbit in space this year to improve safety and reduce operational risks.

The announcement was made Friday by Michael Nicholls, vice president of Starlink engineering, in a post on X. He said the change is intended to strengthen space safety across the satellite network.

The Starlink system operates more than 9,000 satellites in Earth orbit. Nicholls said only two of those satellites are currently not functioning.

Nicholls said solar activity plays a role in satellite behavior. Higher solar activity can expand the Earth’s atmosphere, increasing drag and causing satellites to descend faster. Lower solar activity can have the opposite effect, allowing satellites to remain in orbit longer.

He said operating below 500 kilometers reduces collision risks. Fewer debris objects and planned satellite constellations operate at those altitudes, lowering the chance of impact.

Nicholls said the lower orbit also allows failed satellites to be removed more quickly. Faster reentry reduces the risk posed to other spacecraft in the constellation.

Starlink said Thursday that it lost contact with one satellite and is working with NASA to monitor the situation.

In a post on X, the company said an anomaly occurred on December 17 involving satellite 35956. Communications were lost while the satellite was operating at an altitude of 418 kilometers.

The satellite remains largely intact and is tumbling. Starlink said it is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere within weeks and poses no risk to the orbiting International Space Station or its crew.

The company said it takes such incidents seriously and emphasized its commitment to space safety as the world’s largest satellite constellation operator.

Starlink has expanded rapidly over the past five years. It now operates as a global internet provider with millions of subscribers.

According to its 2024 year-end report, the service has connected more than 4.6 million users. The report said internet access has been activated for more than 2.8 billion people worldwide.

The U.S. Air Force is also studying potential uses of Starlink. Air Force Special Operations Command recently requested information on Starlink and its military version, Starshield.