China has formally raised concerns at the United Nations Security Council, warning that Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites pose potential safety risks in outer space. The complaint was made as SpaceX announced plans to lower thousands of its satellites to reduce collision hazards.

Beijing’s representative stated that the rapid expansion of the Starlink satellite constellation has triggered serious concerns over space safety and security, particularly due to the increased likelihood of satellite collisions.

He noted that such constellations crowd orbital and frequency resources, significantly heightening the risk of collisions in Earth’s orbit.

China also cited a 2021 incident in which a Starlink satellite reportedly passed dangerously close to the Chinese space station, creating what was described as a serious threat to the safety of Chinese astronauts.

Currently, around 8,500 of the world’s 12,955 active satellites operate in low Earth orbit, with approximately 66 percent of them belonging to the Starlink network.

That figure represents only a fraction of Elon Musk’s broader ambition, as he has previously stated that Starlink could eventually consist of more than 42,000 satellites, although the company has so far secured authorization for about 12,000 launches.

The satellites are designed with an operational lifespan of roughly five years, after which they are intended to burn up upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

China is also pursuing a comparable initiative to compete with SpaceX. The government-backed project aims to manufacture and deploy more than 15,000 satellites by 2030, further increasing congestion in low Earth orbit.

Earlier, SpaceX announced plans to reconfigure its entire Starlink constellation by lowering satellite altitudes from 550 kilometers to approximately 480 kilometers in 2026.

According to SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Engineering Michael Nicolls, reducing the satellites’ orbital height would make the Starlink network more compact and enhance overall space safety.

He added that debris levels and planned satellite deployments are significantly lower below 500 kilometers, thereby reducing the risk of collisions.