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--- transportation:satellites [2026/01/02 22:22] – [NRO] timb
+++ transportation:satellites [2026/01/03 21:47] (current) – [Orbit] timb
@@ Line 6736: / Line 6736: @@
 https://gizmodo.com/the-space-stations-russian-segment-wont-stop-leaking-air-2000637333
+== After Half a Decade, the Russian Space Station Segment Stopped Leaking ==
+Posted by msmash on Saturday January 03, 2026 04:01AM
+A small section of the International Space Station that has experienced persistent leaks for years appears to have stopped venting atmosphere into space. ArsTechnica:
+<blockquote>
+The leaks were caused by microscopic structural cracks inside the small PrK module on the Russian segment of the space station, which lies between a Progress spacecraft airlock and the Zvezda module. The problem has been a long-running worry for Russian and US operators of the station, especially after the rate of leakage doubled in 2024. This prompted NASA officials to label the leak as a "high likelihood" and "high consequence" risk. However, recently two sources indicated that the leaks have stopped. And NASA has now confirmed this.
+"Following additional inspections and sealing activities, the pressure in the transfer tunnel attached to the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station, known as the PrK, is holding steady in a stable configuration," a space agency spokesman, Josh Finch, told Ars. "NASA and Roscosmos continue to monitor and investigate the previously observed cracks for any future changes that may occur."
+For the better part of half a decade, Russian cosmonauts have been searching for the small leaks like a proverbial needle in a haystack. They would periodically close the hatch leading to the PrK module and then, upon re-opening it, look for tiny accumulations of dust to indicate the leak sites. Then the Russian cosmonauts would apply a sealant known as Germetall-1 (which has now been patented) to the cracks. They would close the hatch again, monitor the pressure inside the PrK module, and begin the search anew for additional leaks. This process went on for years.
+</blockquote>
+https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/01/02/196256/after-half-a-decade-the-russian-space-station-segment-stopped-leaking
@@ Line 10497: / Line 10511: @@
 ===== Orbit =====
+== Starlink is lowering thousands of satellites' orbits to reduce risk of collisions ==
+Satellites orbiting at around 342 miles will be dropped down to about 298 miles, Starlink's VP of engineering says.
+Cheyenne MacDonald - Thu, January 1, 2026 at 7:05 PM PST
+Starlink will lower the orbits of roughly 4,400 satellites this year as a safety measure, according to engineering VP, Michael Nicolls. In a post on X, Nicolls wrote that the company is "beginning a significant reconfiguration of its satellite constellation," in which all satellites orbiting at around 550 kilometers (342 miles) will be lowered to around 480 km (298 miles). The move is intended to reduce the risk of collisions, putting the satellites in a region that's less cluttered and will allow them to deorbit more quickly should an incident occur.
+"Lowering the satellites results in condensing Starlink orbits, and will increase space safety in several ways," Nicolls wrote, also pointing to the coming solar minimum — a period in the sun's 11ish-year cycle when activity is lower — as one of the reasons for the move. The next solar minimum is expected to occur in the early 2030s. "As solar minimum approaches, atmospheric density decreases which means the ballistic decay time at any given altitude increases - lowering will mean a >80% reduction in ballistic decay time in solar minimum, or 4+ years reduced to a few months," Nicolls wrote.
+https://www.engadget.com/science/space/starlink-is-lowering-thousands-of-satellites-orbits-to-reduce-risk-of-collisions-030509067.html
 == SpaceX begins “significant reconfiguration” of Starlink satellite constellation ==
@@ Line 10513: / Line 10539: @@
 https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/spacex-begins-significant-reconfiguration-of-starlink-satellite-constellation/
+== Starlink to lower orbits of thousands of satellites over safety concerns ==
+Move will see spacecraft shift from 550 km to 480 km as collision risks rise
+Dan Robinson - Fri 2 Jan 2026 14:44 UTC
+Starlink is to lower the orbits of about half its satellite constellation over the course of this year, citing safety concerns.
+The change was announced by Michael Nicolls, VP of Starlink engineering at the satellite operator's parent company, SpaceX. He said the firm plans to lower all of its units that orbit at about 550 km down to roughly 480 km during 2026.
+This comes after one Starlink satellite failed last month. During an incident, the sat both vented propellant, sending it tumbling out of control, and released debris. That followed claims from SpaceX that a Chinese satellite launch came within 200 meters of colliding with another of Starlink's units, although the company has not so far said that a collision caused the loss of its satellite.
+Nicolls claimed that changing orbits would increase space safety in several ways.
+"As solar minimum approaches, atmospheric density decreases which means the ballistic decay time at any given altitude increases – lowering will mean a >80 percent reduction in ballistic decay time in solar minimum, or 4+ years reduced to a few months," he stated.
+The volume of debris and planned satellite constellations is also notably lower below 500 km, he added, which will reduce the likelihood of collisions.
+Starlink's orbital migration is expected to involve about 4,400 of the more than 9,000 satellites it currently has in operation. The maneuver is being carried out in coordination with other operators, regulators, and US Space Command, the firm says.
+There has been growing unease over the number of satellite launches, particularly into low Earth orbit (LEO). As well as Starlink, Amazon's Project Kuiper aims to loft over 3,000 satellites to deliver broadband from space, while China is understood to have plans to put more than 10,000 into orbit to provide its own rival services to Starlink.
+https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/02/starlink_lower_orbits/
+==  SpaceX Lowering Orbits of 4,400 Starlink Satellites for Safety's Sake ==
+Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday January 03, 2026 12:45PM
+"Starlink is beginning a significant reconfiguration of its satellite constellation focused on increasing space safety," announced Michael Nicolls, Starlink's vice president of engineering:
+<blockquote>
+"We are lowering all Starlink satellites orbiting at ~550 km to ~480 km (~4400 satellites) over the course of 2026. The shell lowering is being tightly coordinated with other operators, regulators, and USSPACECOM. Lowering the satellites results in condensing Starlink orbits, and will increase space safety in several ways... Starlink satellites have extremely high reliability, with only 2 dead satellites in its fleet of over 9000 operational satellites. Nevertheless, if a satellite does fail on orbit, we want it to deorbit as quickly as possible. These actions will further improve the safety of the constellation, particularly with difficult to control risks such as uncoordinated maneuvers and launches by other satellite operators.
+</blockquote>
+https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/01/03/075205/spacex-lowering-orbits-of-4400-starlink-satellites-for-safetys-sake