Starlink will begin lowering the orbital altitude of its satellites in 2026, moving thousands of spacecraft from about 550 kilometers to roughly 480 kilometers above Earth.

The move underpins how rapidly worsening congestion in low-Earth orbit is forcing operators to rethink long-term constellation design.

Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, said the reconfiguration is aimed at improving space safety by concentrating satellites in a less crowded orbital shell. The change will apply to all Starlink satellites currently operating around 550 km, one of the most heavily populated altitude bands in low-Earth orbit.

“Lowering the satellites results in condensing Starlink orbits, and will increase space safety in several ways,” Nicolls said in a post on X. He noted that below 500 km, “the number of debris objects and planned satellite constellations is significantly lower, reducing the aggregate likelihood of collision.”

The announcement comes against the backdrop of a sharp rise in orbital traffic. In just a few years, low-Earth orbit has gone from hosting a few thousand satellites to tens of thousands, driven by broadband megaconstellations, Earth-imaging fleets, and government-backed communications systems. Starlink alone accounts for nearly 10,000 active satellites, making SpaceX the dominant player in an increasingly congested environment.

The risks of that congestion were brought into focus in December, when Starlink disclosed that one of its satellites experienced an in-orbit anomaly that produced a “small” amount of debris and severed communications with the spacecraft at around 418 km in altitude. The satellite rapidly lost altitude, dropping roughly four kilometers, an event SpaceX said suggested an internal failure or explosion. While the company stressed that such incidents are rare, it was a reminder that even a single failure can add to debris risks when constellations operate at scale.

Lowering operational altitude offers several advantages from a safety perspective. Satellites flying closer to Earth experience greater atmospheric drag, which means that if a spacecraft fails or loses control, it will naturally decay out of orbit and burn up in the atmosphere much faster than one operating higher up. That shortens the lifespan of potential debris and reduces the chance that defunct satellites remain hazards for decades.

The move also reflects growing pressure from regulators, space agencies, and sustainability advocates who are increasingly alarmed by the pace at which low-Earth orbit is filling up. Concerns extend beyond collision risks to include radio-frequency interference, the impact of satellite brightness on astronomical observations, and the lack of globally binding rules governing megaconstellations. Several space agencies have warned that without stricter operational standards, the risk of cascading collisions could rise sharply.

The reconfiguration is also a strategic signal for SpaceX. Starlink has evolved into a core commercial business that provides broadband connectivity to consumers, enterprises, and governments, including in remote and conflict-affected regions. That scale brings revenue, but it also places Starlink under far greater scrutiny than traditional satellite operators. Operational decisions, not just launch cadence or satellite count, are now central to how the company is judged.

Condensing Starlink’s constellation below 500 km may also influence how future constellations are designed. Many planned networks have targeted similar altitude ranges, and SpaceX’s move could intensify competition for “cleaner” orbital shells while nudging regulators toward setting clearer altitude preferences or caps. It may also affect satellite lifespans, as lower orbits generally require more frequent replenishment, raising costs but improving disposal outcomes.

As more countries push for tighter space traffic management frameworks and as insurers and customers pay closer attention to operational risk, Starlink’s decision suggests an effort. How constellations are managed, de-orbited, and integrated into a crowded orbital ecosystem is becoming just as important as how many satellites are launched.

Put together, Starlink’s 2026 orbital shift is a sign that even the industry’s most aggressive players are being forced to adapt to the limits of space itself, especially as low-Earth orbit becomes one of the most contested and regulated domains in the global economy.

Bulgaria formally entered the euro zone on Thursday, closing a chapter in its post-communist transition and taking a long-sought step deeper into the European Union’s economic core, even as public opinion remains divided over what the change will mean for daily life.

The development marks one of the most consequential economic and political shifts since the country joined the European Union nearly two decades ago, binding its future more tightly to the bloc’s monetary framework at a time of domestic instability and lingering public skepticism.

At midnight, the euro officially replaced the lev, ending the use of a national currency that had been in circulation in various forms since the late 19th century. Celebrations in Sofia included fireworks and a large projection of euro coins on the façade of the Bulgarian National Bank, underscoring the symbolic weight of the moment for policymakers who have pursued euro adoption since EU accession in 2007.

With Bulgaria becoming the euro zone’s 21st member, more than 350 million Europeans now use the single currency. Croatia was the last country to join, in January 2023, after years of preparation. For Brussels and Frankfurt, Bulgaria’s entry signals that eurozone enlargement remains on track despite recent strains from inflation shocks, slowing growth, and geopolitical tensions.

But the implications go well beyond a change of banknotes and coins for Bulgaria. Euro adoption grants the country a seat on the European Central Bank’s Governing Council, giving it a voice in interest rate decisions that affect the entire euro area. Until now, Bulgaria was bound by ECB policy through its long-standing currency board arrangement, which pegged the lev to the euro, but without any formal influence over monetary decisions.

Successive governments have argued that adopting the euro would enhance macroeconomic stability, reduce borrowing costs, and improve Bulgaria’s appeal to foreign investors. Officials also see the move as a way to anchor economic policy discipline and reinforce Bulgaria’s position within the EU at a time when questions about cohesion and integration persist across the bloc.

On the ground, reactions have been mixed but often pragmatic. Many Bulgarians note that the fixed exchange rate means the conversion is largely arithmetic rather than transformational.

“Our money will be in a different currency – if I have 10,000 leva, now I will have 5,100 euros. It’s all the same. And I think it will be better,” said Stefan Bisterkov, a driving instructor in Sofia.

Businesses have been among the strongest advocates of euro adoption. Companies involved in trade, tourism, and manufacturing expect smoother cross-border transactions, lower currency risk, and easier access to euro-denominated financing. Employers’ groups have also argued that euro membership could help narrow the income gap with wealthier EU states by supporting investment and productivity growth.

“My expectations from adopting the euro are positive,” Reuters quoted Antonia Tsvetkova, a jeweler, as saying. “Anyone who goes on a trip will not have problems exchanging currency. Now everything will be normal.”

Still, opposition and concern remain significant. Opinion polls have consistently shown a divided public, with many Bulgarians worried that the euro could push up prices, particularly for food, utilities, and services. Such fears have accompanied euro adoption elsewhere in Europe, where perceived price increases sometimes outlasted the actual inflationary impact measured by official data.

These concerns are sharpened by Bulgaria’s fragile political environment. The country has endured repeated elections, short-lived governments, and widespread protests over corruption, living costs, and fiscal policy. The most recent government stepped down last month amid demonstrations against proposed tax increases, reinforcing public distrust toward the political establishment managing the euro transition.

Critics argue that adopting the euro reduces national economic sovereignty at a time when confidence in domestic institutions is low. Others see the move as largely symbolic, given that Bulgaria’s currency board already constrained independent monetary policy, but question whether ordinary citizens will feel tangible benefits in the near term.

Economically, Bulgaria enters the euro zone with relatively low public debt and a banking sector that has been closely aligned with euro area rules for years. Supporters say this puts the country in a solid position to benefit from euro membership, including access to ECB liquidity mechanisms in times of stress and deeper integration into European financial markets.

Bulgaria’s accession reinforces the message that the EU’s single currency remains a central pillar of the bloc’s integration project. It also shifts attention to other EU members outside the euro zone, highlighting the uneven pace of monetary unification across the union.

However, the immediate challenge will be managing the transition smoothly, monitoring prices, and maintaining public trust. Over the longer term, the success of euro adoption will likely be judged on whether it delivers faster growth, higher living standards, and greater economic resilience.