Elon Musk Now Controls Nearly Two-Thirds of All Active Satellites

Elon Musk’s SpaceX now operates nearly two-thirds of all active satellites in orbit around Earth following the launch of the 7,000th Starlink satellite. The Starlink network, which aims to deliver global internet connectivity, has expanded significantly since its first launch in 2019, with an average of three new satellites added per day.

As per the latest data from CelesTrak, a non-profit satellite tracking organization, there are currently 6,370 active Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit. Additionally, hundreds more have been decommissioned or have left orbit.

SpaceX’s Growing Presence in Space

Over the past three years, Starlink satellites have grown more than sixfold, making up over 62% of all operational satellites today. This number is nearly ten times greater than that of its closest competitor, OneWeb, a UK-based company owned by Eutelsat. 

OneWeb had to turn to SpaceX rockets for its satellite launches after Russian Soyuz launches were halted in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.

Ambitious Expansion Goals

SpaceX plans to launch as many as 42,000 satellites to complete its Starlink constellation, which provides high-speed internet and phone services worldwide. Starlink is available in 102 countries and serves more than three million customers who pay a subscription fee to use the network with a $300 ground-based dish.

There are plans to expand to more countries in the future. Still, nations like Afghanistan, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria are excluded from the service due to internet restrictions or trade sanctions. 

Despite these restrictions, some users in these countries have accessed the network using imported equipment, including activists who smuggled Starlink receivers into Iran in 2022 to circumvent censorship.

A Rapidly Expanding Satellite Fleet

Musk recently noted on X (formerly Twitter) that “Starlink now constitutes roughly 2/3 of all active Earth satellites” after SpaceX’s latest mission launched 21 additional Starlink satellites via a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.