Real-time tracking of 8,970+ Starlink satellites. Live constellation status, Starlink train finder, orbital shell breakdown, launch timeline, and personalised pass predictions.
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Active
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Orbit Raising
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Total Launched
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Deorbiting / Decayed
Constellation Health
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Active satellites: —
Orbital shells: 5
Orbital planes: ~170
Operational altitude: 480–560 km
Orbital speed: 7.6 km/s
Orbital period: ~95 min
Total mass in orbit: —
Launches to date: —
Active satellites: —
Orbital shells: 5
Orbital planes: ~170
Operational altitude: 480–560 km
Orbital speed: 7.6 km/s
Orbital period: ~95 min
Total mass in orbit: —
Launches to date: —
Tracking — satellites
Gen1 (480–550 km)
V2 Mini (480 km)
Polar (560 km)
Raising / Deorbit
ORBITAL RADAR · LIVE STARLINK CONSTELLATION
Rendering — satellites · Updated —
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Live Laser Link Mesh
Starlink satellites communicate via optical inter-satellite laser links (ISLs), forming a high-speed mesh network in orbit. Data travels at the speed of light through vacuum — faster than fibre optic cables on Earth.
Laser links computed from live orbital elements. Each V2 satellite has 4 laser terminals operating at 100 Gbps. The constellation transfers ~42 PB/day via laser mesh.
Estimated Starlink service quality at your location right now, based on real-time satellite positions and geometric spread.
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Satellites visible
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Max elevation
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Avg elevation
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Sky coverage spread
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Est. latency
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Est. throughput
Estimates are approximate and based on satellite geometry. Actual Starlink service performance depends on subscriber density, ground station proximity, and weather conditions.
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Starlink Signal Score
A composite rating of expected Starlink performance at your location, based on real-time satellite geometry, sky coverage, latitude, and ground station proximity.
Enter your location to calculate your Starlink Signal Score
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How to See Starlink Tonight
Quick Start
Starlink satellites are visible to the naked eye, especially in the days after a launch when they form a bright "train" of evenly-spaced lights moving in a line across the sky. This is one of the most striking sights in the night sky.
When to look: The best time is during the 1–2 hours after sunset or before sunrise, when the sky is dark but satellites are still illuminated by the Sun. A typical train pass lasts 2–5 minutes.
What to look for: A line of bright white dots moving steadily from west to east. They don't blink — if lights blink, they're aircraft. Fresh trains (1–3 days old) are the most spectacular; older groups spread apart and become individual dots.
Find the next visible Starlink train pass for your location. Recently-launched groups still in close formation appear as a spectacular "string of pearls" crossing the sky.
Set your location to enable alerts
Next Visible Train Pass
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Enter your location above to find upcoming Starlink train passes.
Orbital Shell Breakdown
Starlink satellites are distributed across multiple orbital shells at different altitudes and inclinations. Each shell serves a specific coverage purpose.
Shell 1 — Gen1 Primary
~480 km · 53° inclination
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Shell 2 — Gen1 Secondary
~540 km · 53.2° inclination
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Shell 3 — Inclined
~540 km · 70° inclination
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Shell 4 — Polar
~560 km · 97.6° inclination
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Shell 5 — V2 Mini Optimized
~480 km · 43° inclination
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Satellite counts are live from Orbital Radar's TLE database. Shell assignments are computed from current orbital elements. Counts update automatically as new TLEs are ingested. See Mega-Constellations Explained for more on constellation architecture.
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How Many Starlink Satellites Are There?
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Active Starlink satellites in orbit right now
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Total launched
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Orbit raising
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Fully operational
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Deorbiting
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Decayed / deorbited
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V2 Mini satellites
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Launches to date
These counts are computed live from Orbital Radar's TLE database, updated multiple times daily from official sources. See How Many Starlink Satellites for a detailed historical breakdown and deployment timeline.
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Constellation Growth
From 60 satellites in 2019 to over 8,970 active today — the growth of the largest satellite constellation ever assembled.
Active satellite count over time. Data from Orbital Radar's TLE database · Full launch log
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Deployment Progress
SpaceX has FCC approval for 12,000 Gen1 satellites and has filed for up to 42,000 total. Here's how far along the constellation is right now.
Gen1 Target (12,000)
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Full Vision (42,000)
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Active Right Now
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Full Vision Progress
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Constellation Growth Forecast
Based on current launch cadence of —, here's when SpaceX is projected to hit its constellation milestones.
Projections are estimates based on observed launch cadence and may not account for regulatory, manufacturing, or operational delays. Starship mass-deployment could significantly accelerate the timeline.
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Starlink by the Numbers
The Starlink constellation is the largest satellite fleet ever assembled. To put the scale in perspective:
Starlink
8,970+ sats
OneWeb
~648 sats
Iridium NEXT
~75 sats
GPS
31 sats
All other operators combined
~4,400 sats
Starlink accounts for more than half of all active satellites in Earth orbit. The total mass of the constellation exceeds 6,229 tonnes — heavier than the International Space Station, Tiangong, and Hubble combined.
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Approximate Coverage Density
Starlink provides near-global coverage between 57°S and 57°N latitude from its primary shell. Polar shells extend service to higher latitudes, including Arctic regions. Coverage density varies by latitude due to orbital mechanics.
Light travels 47% faster through vacuum than through glass fibre. For intercontinental routes, Starlink's laser mesh could theoretically beat undersea cables. Pick two cities and watch the race.
→— km
🛰️ Starlink ISL
— ms
🔌 Fibre Optic
— ms
Select cities to race
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Theoretical comparison. Starlink path: great-circle arc at 550 km altitude, speed of light in vacuum. Fibre path: estimated cable route at 0.67c plus router hops. Actual latency depends on routing, congestion, and ground station topology.
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Direct-to-Cell Coverage
SpaceX is deploying direct-to-cell capabilities — connecting unmodified smartphones directly to Starlink satellites, eliminating the need for cell towers in remote areas.
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D2C-capable satellites
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Partner carrier
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Service status
Direct-to-cell service requires specific V2 satellite hardware and carrier partnerships. Coverage area and feature availability may vary.
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Starlink Launch Timeline
Recent Starlink launches. SpaceX typically launches multiple Starlink missions per month aboard Falcon 9. For the complete history, see the full launch log.
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Conjunction Monitor
Close approaches involving Starlink satellites, computed from Orbital Radar's live close-encounter screening engine.
Starlink satellites are designed for controlled deorbiting at end-of-life. At operational altitude, even uncontrolled satellites decay within a few years. Here's the current state of the Starlink graveyard.
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Decayed / burned up
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Currently deorbiting
DEORBITING NOW
Loading deorbiting satellites…
RECENTLY DECAYED
Loading recent entries…
Reentry estimates are approximate and based on current orbital decay rate. Actual reentry timing depends on solar activity and atmospheric density. See Reentry Tracker for all objects.
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About the Starlink Constellation
Starlink is SpaceX's broadband internet constellation — the largest satellite fleet ever assembled. With over 8,970 active satellites in Low Earth Orbit, Starlink now accounts for more than half of all operational satellites orbiting Earth.
Each satellite weighs between 260 kg (v1.5) and 800 kg (V2 Mini Optimized), uses krypton-fuelled ion thrusters for orbit-raising and station-keeping, and is designed for a 5-year operational life before controlled deorbiting. The constellation operates across multiple orbital shells at different altitudes and inclinations to provide near-global coverage.
The primary shell originally operated at 550 km altitude but is being lowered to ~480 km during 2026 for improved space safety. The 53° inclination provides coverage to populated mid-latitude regions. Additional shells at 70° and 97.6° extend coverage towards the poles, serving Arctic and maritime customers.
Starlink satellites connect to the ground through a network of gateway stations and directly to consumer dishes (called "Dishy McFlatface"). Newer V2 satellites include laser inter-satellite links, allowing data to hop between satellites in orbit without touching the ground — reducing latency for long-distance routes.
Drag the slider to see what a telescope field of view might look like with different constellation sizes — from today's ~8,970 to the planned 42,000 satellites.
~8,970 satellites
042,000
No satellitesCurrent (~8,970)Gen1 (12,000)Full vision (42,000)
Simulation shows approximate satellite streak density in a typical long-exposure astronomical image. Actual impact depends on exposure time, satellite brightness, and orbital geometry. Learn more about the impact of mega-constellations on astronomy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Over 8,970 Starlink satellites are currently active, with more than 10,324 launched in total. SpaceX launches new batches regularly — typically multiple times per month — with the constellation growing towards an eventual target of 12,000+ in the first generation. See the live counter above for real-time numbers, or How Many Starlink Satellites for detailed breakdowns.
Yes — Starlink satellites are visible to the naked eye, especially in the first few days after launch when they form a visible "train" of lights. They appear as a line of bright, evenly-spaced dots moving steadily across the sky over 2–5 minutes. Use the train finder on this page to check upcoming visible passes for your location, or see our complete viewing guide.
Starlink satellites orbit at approximately 7.6 km/s (27,400 km/h). At their operational altitude of 480–550 km, they complete one full orbit every ~95 minutes. That's fast enough to circle the entire Earth in less than two hours.
Starlink operates across multiple orbital shells. The primary constellation sits at ~480–550 km altitude. A polar shell at ~560 km covers high latitudes. See the orbital shell breakdown above for a detailed per-shell view with live satellite counts.
Starlink satellites are visible from the ground, which has raised concerns among astronomers. SpaceX has implemented several mitigations: VisorSat sun shades, darkened chassis coatings, and dielectric mirror film on V2 Mini satellites. While brightness has been reduced, the sheer number of satellites remains a topic of ongoing discussion in the astronomy community.
A Starlink "train" is a visible line of recently-launched satellites moving together across the sky before they spread to their operational orbits. In the first 1–3 days after launch, they appear as a spectacular string of bright dots, evenly spaced, crossing the sky over 2–5 minutes. As days pass, they spread apart and become individual points of light. Use the train finder to find the next visible pass.
Traditional satellite internet (like HughesNet or Viasat) uses geostationary satellites at 35,786 km altitude, resulting in 500–700 ms latency. Starlink's LEO constellation at 480–550 km achieves 25–60 ms latency with speeds of 25–220 Mbps — comparable to basic terrestrial broadband. See our detailed Starlink internet guide.
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites regularly, typically 2–4 times per month. Check the launch timeline above for recent and upcoming missions, or visit our full launch schedule for all upcoming launches across all providers.
SpaceX actively deorbits failed and end-of-life Starlink satellites using their onboard ion thrusters. At the current operational altitude (~480 km), even uncontrolled satellites naturally decay within a few years due to atmospheric drag. However, the sheer scale of the constellation — and the 2022 geomagnetic storm that destroyed 40 satellites — has fuelled ongoing space debris discussions. See What Is Space Debris? for more context.
Use the "Is Starlink Above Me?" tool at the top of this page. Enter your location and Orbital Radar will calculate how many Starlink satellites are currently above your horizon in real time.