Elon Musk’s aerospace firm SpaceX has reported that the number of Starlink satellites de-orbited at the end of 2025 declined substantially, dropping from around 500 to approximately 200.

This massive drop in de-orbited Starlink satellites was highlighted in the company’s latest semi-annual report it submitted to the FCC, indicating the successful retirement of many older Starlink satellites.

Usually, a Starlink satellite has a lifespan of five years before de-orbiting, during which it is designed to completely burn up upon re-entry into the atmosphere.

It must be noted that Starlink satellites can also be retired early due to malfunctions or hardware flaws. 

The Starlink constellation, which consists of over 10,000 satellites, experienced a surge in burn-ups last year, with SpaceX de-orbiting as many as four to five satellites daily, said astronomer and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.

From December 2024 to May 2025, SpaceX de-orbited 472 satellites, but this number dropped to just 218 from June to November.

Most of the de-orbited 167 satellites belonged to the first-generation Starlink constellation, which began serving customers over five years ago. The remainder came from the second-generation constellation.

McDowell confirmed that SpaceX has “largely completed the mass retirement of the older satellites,” although the reentry rate remains high compared to 2023, reflecting SpaceX’s efforts to manage its expanding satellite fleet.

The Game of Thrones universe is expanding once again with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a highly anticipated prequel series set to premiere on January 18, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, the new series takes a different approach from previous Westeros stories. 

Instead of massive wars and dragons, the show focuses on a smaller, more personal journey driven by character and adventure.

Set nearly 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the story unfolds while the Targaryens still sit on the Iron Throne and dragons are becoming legends.

The series follows Ser Duncan the Tall, a traveling hedge knight with strong moral values, and his young squire Egg—who is secretly Aegon Targaryen, a prince with a powerful future.

As Dunk and Egg travel across the Seven Kingdoms, they move between tourneys, villages, and royal courts, meeting nobles and common folk alike.

Their travels slowly pull them into political tensions and hidden power struggles, while their mentor-student bond forms the emotional heart of the series.

Peter Claffey stars as Ser Duncan the Tall, with Dexter Sol Ansell playing Egg. The supporting cast includes Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Daniel Ings, Tanzyn Crawford, and Sam Spruell.

Season 1 will consist of six episodes, offering a focused and character-driven story while maintaining the rich world-building fans expect. 

HBO has already renewed the series for a second season, signaling strong confidence in the show’s future.

The end of House of the Dragon is officially in sight.

Showrunner Ryan Condal has confirmed that the Game of Thrones spinoff will conclude with its fourth season.

Condal shared the update during a late-December appearance on the Escape Hatch podcast, where he discussed the progress of season 3 and revealed that season 4 is already in development—and will be the final chapter.

“It really feels like we’ve turned a big page here. Knowing there’s only one more season left, it feels like we can leave it all out on the field. We’ve started the writing process for Season 4, which will be the last one,” Condal said on the podcast.

Season 3 of House of the Dragon is currently in post-production and is expected to premiere sometime this summer. HBO recently released new images from the upcoming season, giving fans a first look at what’s next in the Targaryen civil war.

While an official release date has not been announced, season 4 is expected to debut in 2028, bringing the series to a planned and definitive ending.

The Game of Thrones universe, however, is far from over. Another spinoff series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is set to premiere on January 18. 

The show has already been renewed for a second season, signaling HBO’s continued commitment to expanding George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world.

With one season left to tell the rest of the story, Condal’s comments suggest that House of the Dragon is heading toward a focused and ambitious finale.