SpaceX Launches 10,000th Starlink Satellite in Internet Milestone
▼ Summary
– SpaceX launched 56 Starlink satellites on Sunday, surpassing 10,000 total satellites launched into low Earth orbit to date.
– The milestone was achieved on the 132nd Falcon 9 launch of 2025, tying the previous annual launch record with over two months remaining in the year.
– Of the 10,000 satellites launched, only about 8,608 are currently operational, with Starlink satellites having a roughly five-year lifespan before de-orbiting.
– SpaceX has approval to launch 12,000 satellites and plans over 30,000 to provide fast, low-latency internet globally.
– Other companies and countries, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper and efforts in Europe and China, are planning their own mega constellations, raising concerns about overcrowding in orbit.
SpaceX has achieved a monumental feat in the satellite internet sector, successfully deploying its 10,000th Starlink satellite into low Earth orbit. This landmark event took place on Sunday, when a Falcon 9 rocket carried 56 new satellites to space, marking the 132nd Falcon 9 launch of 2025 and matching the previous annual launch record with over two months still remaining in the year.
Out of the total satellites launched, current data indicates that approximately 8,608 remain operational and active in orbit. These satellites are designed with a limited operational lifespan, typically around five years, after which they are deliberately guided back into Earth’s atmosphere to burn up safely. The Starlink initiative began with prototype launches in February 2018, leading up to the official start of commercial service in 2021.
SpaceX holds regulatory approval to launch up to 12,000 satellites as part of its constellation, with long-term plans to expand to more than 30,000. The primary goal is to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved and remote regions across the globe. However, the rapid expansion of satellite mega-constellations is not unique to SpaceX. Competitors such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper, along with programs in Europe and China, are advancing their own large-scale satellite networks. This surge in orbital activity has sparked significant concern among scientists and regulators regarding potential space congestion and the risks associated with orbital debris.
(Source: The Verge)
