[alex_duf]

Wasn't there debate around their aluminium frame reacting with the upper atmosphere? The ozone layer maybe?

4 or 5 years of lifetime for literal tons of satellites is definitely not sustainable

[onethought]

Perhaps they could find a way to refuel the constellation?

[modeless]

Unfortunately the physics of this don't work very well. And at least for now the satellites are getting generational upgrades frequently, so the old satellites are obsolete. Maybe in the far future it will make sense to try this, but not anytime soon.

[onethought]

Pie in the sky: in the future when they have the ability to put large starship fuel tankers into orbit, they could match the orbits of starlink and have some kind of drone move between satellites and tanker.