Overview
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, operates the largest satellite constellation in history. The Starlink broadband internet constellation accounts for roughly 65% of all active satellites in Earth orbit. SpaceX also manufactures the Falcon 9 launch vehicle (the most-launched orbital rocket in history) and is developing Starship for next-generation missions.
Starlink Fleet Status (Early 2026)
Over 11,300 Starlink satellites have been launched since 2019, of which approximately 9,800 are currently active. The constellation serves over 10 million customers across 100+ countries. In 2026, SpaceX began lowering the primary shell from ~550 km to ~480 km altitude to improve space safety and reduce ballistic decay time for any failed satellites.
Satellite Generations
V1.0/V1.5: First-generation satellites (~260 kg). Most V1.0 have been retired. V2 Mini / V2 Mini Optimized: Current generation (~800 kg), with higher throughput and Direct-to-Cell (D2C) capability for mobile phones. V3: Next-generation satellites designed for Starship, with 10× the capacity of V2. Expected to begin launching in 2026.
Launch Operations
SpaceX conducted 165 Falcon 9 launches in 2025, setting a sixth consecutive annual record. Most were Starlink deployment missions. SpaceX reuses first-stage boosters up to 25+ times, dramatically reducing launch costs. The company operates from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, and Vandenberg Space Force Base.