SpaceX FCC Filing Discloses Controlled Deorbit of 260 Starlink Satellites Between Dec 2025 and May 2026

SpaceX has disclosed a new round of controlled Starlink deorbit activity in a semi-annual filing with the Federal Communications Commission. The company confirmed it steered 260 Starlink satellites into the atmosphere between December 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Friction during re-entry destroyed each satellite completely, leaving no debris on the ground.

What the FCC Filing Shows

The Starlink deorbit total for this six-month window sits at 260 satellites. That figure covers both older and newer hardware generations. SpaceX says the process is intentional, not a response to malfunctions, and forms part of routine fleet turnover across its constellation.

Breakdown by Satellite Generation

The filing splits the 260 satellites by generation:

• 176 satellites were part of the original first-generation Starlink fleet.
• 84 satellites belonged to the newer second-generation Starlink hardware.
• First-generation units weigh 260 to 295 kg (573 to 650 lbs) each.
• Second-generation units weigh 800 to 1,250 kg (1,764 to 2,756 lbs) each.

How This Compares to Earlier Deorbit Cycles

This Starlink deorbit count runs higher than the 218 satellites disposed of in the six months immediately before it. It still trails the 472 satellites SpaceX deorbited between December 2024 and May 2025, the largest six-month total on record. SpaceX disposes of satellites almost daily given its fleet size.

Why SpaceX Deorbits Satellites on Purpose

Most Starlink satellites carry a service life of about five years. SpaceX designed the constellation this way, allowing regular hardware swaps as fuel runs low. Retrieving retired satellites for reuse is not physically or financially practical, so atmospheric burn-up remains the disposal method of choice.

Disposal Reliability Tops the FCC Requirement

The FCC requires megaconstellation operators to hit a 95% post-mission disposal reliability rate. SpaceX reported a rate above 99% in this filing. The company also decommissioned an additional 349 satellites during the same window, with disposal still pending for that group.

Environmental Questions Still Unresolved

Repeated atmospheric burn-ups have drawn scrutiny from researchers studying upper-stratosphere particulates. The FCC has historically excluded satellites from formal environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. Advocacy groups want that exclusion removed, which would require full environmental impact statements before future launch approvals.

The debate now involves multiple federal bodies:

• The FCC, which oversees spectrum and orbital debris rules.
• The FAA, which licenses commercial launch and re-entry activity.
• The Government Accountability Office, reviewing oversight gaps across agencies.

What Comes Next for the Starlink Fleet

SpaceX’s constellation now exceeds 10,000 operational satellites. The company is separately lowering the orbits of roughly 4,400 Starlink satellites during 2026, dropping them to about 480 km altitude to cut collision risk. Newer Starlink V3 satellites are already replacing retired hardware in active orbital shells.

[HYPERLIQUID TV] SpaceX vaporized 260 Starlink satellites in six months using Earth's atmosphere, raising environmental concerns over orbital debris and potentially influencing future FCC regulatory exemptions for satellite deorbiting.https://t.co/hEOHPiBhzt

— Rafal Jakobsen | Hyperliquid TV (@rafal_jakobsen) July 5, 2026

Related Stocks to Watch

Investors tracking satellite broadband and orbital infrastructure often watch:

• SpaceX (SPCX)
• Amazon (AMZN), building the competing Kuiper constellation
• EchoStar (SATS)
• Iridium Communications (IRDM)
• Viasat (VSAT)

Final Thoughts

SpaceX’s latest FCC filing confirms steady, planned turnover across its Starlink fleet rather than any sign of trouble. The 260-satellite Starlink deorbit total sits between recent highs and lows, consistent with a constellation replacing aging hardware on schedule. The bigger open question remains regulatory: whether satellites keep their exemption from environmental review as the fleet keeps growing.

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice