Operational

Starlink

SpaceX · USA · Broadband Internet + Direct-to-Cell

Starlink is SpaceX's low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation — the largest array of satellites ever built. Launched in batches aboard Falcon 9 (and increasingly Starship), it delivers low-latency internet to more than 4 million subscribers across 100+ countries, with newer V2 Mini satellites adding Direct-to-Cell service to ordinary smartphones. Inter-satellite laser links let the network route traffic over oceans and poles without ground stations.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches a batch of Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center — Image: U.S. Space Force / Gwendolyn Kurzen (Public domain)

6,200 in orbit42,000 planned

14.8% of the planned constellation deployed

Live track

Acquiring…

Live sub-point of a representative low-Earth-orbit satellite — the regime Starlink operates in — propagated in your browser from current CelesTrak orbital elements.

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Acquiring current orbital elements…

Constellation specifications

Operator: SpaceX
Country: USA
Purpose: Broadband Internet + Direct-to-Cell
Orbit: LEO (540–570 km)
Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 (60 sats/launch), Starship (400+ planned)
Latency: 25–60 ms
User terminal: $299–$599
Revenue / funding: ~$6.6B (2025 est.)
Status: Operational — 4M+ subscribers in 100+ countries

Key facts

▹Largest satellite constellation in history
▹Launches ~50 sats every ~5 days
▹V2 Mini sats have Direct-to-Cell capability
▹Gen2 on Starship will dramatically increase capacity
▹Inter-satellite laser links for global coverage including oceans

Frequently asked questions

How many Starlink satellites are in orbit?▾

As of mid-2026, SpaceX has roughly 10,700 operational Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit (of about 12,550 launched) — nearly two-thirds of all active satellites around Earth. The constellation is licensed to grow to as many as 42,000 satellites.

How fast is Starlink and what does it cost?▾

Starlink delivers latency of about 25–60 ms — comparable to wired broadband — because its satellites orbit at just 540–570 km. User terminals cost roughly $299–$599 depending on the plan and region.

Can Starlink connect to a normal phone?▾

Yes — newer Starlink V2 Mini satellites carry Direct-to-Cell payloads that let unmodified smartphones send texts and, increasingly, data without a dish, by treating the satellite as a cell tower in space.

Data sourced from UCS Satellite Database, ESA Space Debris Office, Space-Track.org, ITU filings, and company disclosures. Live positions propagated from CelesTrak TLEs. © SpaceOdysseyHub.