SpaceX is requesting a retraction from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding a report that suggests debris from deorbiting Starlink satellites could pose a risk, estimating that a potential death or injury might occur every two years. In a letter addressed to the FAA, SpaceX's principal engineer, David Goldstein, criticized the report as "deeply flawed" and based on outdated data. SpaceX contends that its Starlink satellites are specifically designed to safely disintegrate upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. This assertion is supported by the fact that no Starlink debris has reached the ground thus far.
The report also raised concerns about the remote possibility of Starlink debris colliding with an aircraft in flight. The FAA commissioned the Aerospace Corp., a federally funded nonprofit organization, to conduct the study, which was mandated by Congress. Goldstein pointed out that the Aerospace Corp. study relied on a 23-year-old NASA report that focused on the debris generated by falling Iridium satellites, which were not designed to be fully demisable. SpaceX currently has approximately 5,000 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit, with plans to expand the constellation to around 14,000 satellites upon completion.