SpaceX recently reported deorbiting 260 Starlink satellites between December 2025 and May 2026. This figure, comprising 176 first-generation and 84 second-generation satellites, is not unusual for the company, which proactively manages its constellation. In a previous instance in 2024, SpaceX deorbited 406 satellites due to identified issues with version-one models, followed by nearly 500 between December 2024 and May 2025.

Designed to burn up upon atmospheric re-entry, Starlink satellites are typically deorbited over open oceans to prevent accidents. While SpaceX anticipates only about 5 percent of a satellite's mass, like silicon from solar cells, might survive, these fragments are expected to be small with negligible impact. Controlled deorbiting ensures maneuverability and collision avoidance.

Despite these measures, scientists are investigating the environmental impact of frequent deorbits. Concerns include the release of black carbon particles from burning organic materials and the potential conversion of aluminum into aluminum oxide byproducts. This accumulation could theoretically affect ozone layer recovery, a process initiated by the phasing out of chlorofluorocarbons in 1987.