CA, USA
Falcon 9 Block 5Constellation
How many Starlink satellites are in orbit?
In plain English
What is an orbital shell?
Starlink satellites fly in a few big rings around Earth, each at a set height and tilt. A ring like that is called a shell, and the tilt is measured from the equator.
The main shell is tilted 53 degrees, which puts satellites over the most populated parts of the world. A 43-degree shell adds capacity nearer the equator, a 70-degree shell reaches further north and south, and a near-polar shell at 97.6 degrees covers the Arctic and Antarctic.
We sort each satellite into a shell by its tilt today. The nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures for each shell.
Think of hula hoops around a ball at different angles. Each hoop is a shell; the dots are the satellites sliding around it.
The live Starlink satellite count, split by version and orbital shell, how fast the constellation has grown since 2019, the next launches, and the countries where Starlink says it is available. Orbital statistics are calculated from public catalog and orbit data; launch schedules and service availability have separate sources.
Tracked in orbit
11,185
objects with current orbit data
In the 450–600 km band
In plain English
What does “at working height” mean?
New satellites are dropped off low, around 300 km, and spend weeks climbing to their working height using tiny electric thrusters. At the end of life they are steered back down to burn up.
We call 450 to 600 km the working band because that covers every Starlink shell’s stated height. Anything below is either climbing after launch or coming down; anything above is rare.
This is a height rule, not a status from SpaceX. A satellite low in the band might be perfectly healthy and simply new.
9,896
450–600 km
Below 450 km
1,289
below 450 km right now
Cataloged / recorded decayed
12,997/ 1,810
catalog records / recorded decay dates
GrowthFrom the first batch to today
From the first batch to today In plain EnglishHow is the growth line calculated?
Every satellite has a launch date and, if it has come down, a retirement date in the public catalog. For each month we add the ones launched and take away the ones that came down.
The result is how many were in orbit at the end of each month, right back to the first launch in the catalog.
Retirement dates come from the same public catalog, so the in-orbit line already has the roughly 1,700 satellites that have come down taken out. It is a good picture of growth, not an audited ledger.
How is the growth line calculated?
Every satellite has a launch date and, if it has come down, a retirement date in the public catalog. For each month we add the ones launched and take away the ones that came down.
The result is how many were in orbit at the end of each month, right back to the first launch in the catalog.
Retirement dates come from the same public catalog, so the in-orbit line already has the roughly 1,700 satellites that have come down taken out. It is a good picture of growth, not an audited ledger.
Satellites in the public catalog at the end of each month, 2019-05 to 2026-10.
11,187in orbit at end of 2026-10
v0.9 v1.0 v1.5 v2-mini v3 In orbit Launched to date
Show as a table
| Month | Launched to date | In orbit |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-05 | 60 | 60 |
| 2019-11 | 120 | 120 |
| 2020-05 | 420 | 415 |
| 2020-11 | 953 | 895 |
| 2021-05 | 1,735 | 1,663 |
| 2021-11 | 1,842 | 1,709 |
| 2022-05 | 2,619 | 2,405 |
| 2022-11 | 3,524 | 3,268 |
| 2023-05 | 4,487 | 4,198 |
| 2023-11 | 5,479 | 5,141 |
| 2024-05 | 6,494 | 6,077 |
| 2024-11 | 7,427 | 6,805 |
| 2025-05 | 8,749 | 7,650 |
| 2025-11 | 10,411 | 9,093 |
| 2026-05 | 12,086 | 10,506 |
| 2026-10 | 12,997 | 11,187 |
HardwareBy version
By version In plain EnglishHow do we know which version a satellite is?
We don’t, exactly. The public orbit data says nothing about the hardware. What it does say is when each satellite was launched and which orbit it flies in.
SpaceX changed hardware at known points: a test batch in 2019, v1.0 until autumn 2021, v1.5 with laser links after that, and v2 Mini from February 2023. We match each satellite’s launch to those dates and, for 2023 when two versions flew side by side, to its orbit.
The larger v3 satellites fly only on Starship, which launches from Texas rather than the two Falcon 9 ranges. So a satellite is colored v3 when the public catalog shows it was launched from somewhere other than Florida or California on or after 28 September 2026, the date of Starship’s first Starlink deployment. New launches take a few days to appear in that catalog.
So the colors are a well-informed estimate, not an official label. A few satellites near a cut-off could be colored wrongly.
It is like guessing a car’s model year from its number plate: usually right, occasionally a year off.
How do we know which version a satellite is?
We don’t, exactly. The public orbit data says nothing about the hardware. What it does say is when each satellite was launched and which orbit it flies in.
SpaceX changed hardware at known points: a test batch in 2019, v1.0 until autumn 2021, v1.5 with laser links after that, and v2 Mini from February 2023. We match each satellite’s launch to those dates and, for 2023 when two versions flew side by side, to its orbit.
The larger v3 satellites fly only on Starship, which launches from Texas rather than the two Falcon 9 ranges. So a satellite is colored v3 when the public catalog shows it was launched from somewhere other than Florida or California on or after 28 September 2026, the date of Starship’s first Starlink deployment. New launches take a few days to appear in that catalog.
So the colors are a well-informed estimate, not an official label. A few satellites near a cut-off could be colored wrongly.
It is like guessing a car’s model year from its number plate: usually right, occasionally a year off.
In orbit today, by estimated version. The estimate uses each satellite’s launch and orbit, because the public data carries no hardware label. Older versions shrink as they are retired; newer ones grow with each launch.
Month by month, last six months
| Month end | v1.0 | v1.5 | v2-mini | v3 | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05 | 720 | 2,314 | 7,472 | 0 | 10,506 |
| 2026-06 | 694 | 2,306 | 7,721 | 0 | 10,721 |
| 2026-07 | 657 | 2,294 | 7,925 | 0 | 10,876 |
| 2026-08 | 628 | 2,287 | 8,179 | 0 | 11,094 |
| 2026-09 | 598 | 2,277 | 8,253 | 26 | 11,154 |
| 2026-10 | 570 | 2,266 | 8,325 | 26 | 11,187 |
Find and follow
Find a satellite or launch
Search a Starlink name, NORAD ID, international object ID, mission group or launch batch.
In plain English
Satellite and launch identifiers
Search a Starlink name (for example STARLINK-30874), its NORAD catalog number (58227), or its international object ID (2023-170X). A Starlink name and a NORAD number are different identifiers for the same satellite.
Starlink Group 15-25 is a mission name. An international launch batch such as 2026-232 identifies the year and launch sequence. An object ID adds letters, such as 2026-232A. We link missions and batches only through the same identifier supplied by the sources.
Tick satellites to select them. Click a row to select it alone; Ctrl-click or Command-click adds or removes it. With focus in the results, Ctrl+A or Command+A selects all matching rows, including those on later pages. These shortcuts do not take over text selection in the search field.
The map uses available orbital estimates. Retired or missing objects cannot be plotted; the map reports the difference. Upcoming launches have no published positions yet.
CelesTrak catalog identifiers (opens in a new tab)Loading the satellite catalog… Launch names are already searchable.
Upcoming and recent launchesLaunch calendar
Launch calendar In plain EnglishWhat do the launch labels mean?
Go means the launch is confirmed for the time shown. TBC means the date is expected but not confirmed. TBD means the date is still being worked out.
Times come from Launch Library, a public database kept up to date by volunteers and the launch providers’ own announcements. They shift often, especially close to the day, so treat them as the best current estimate.
Times are shown in your preferred time zone from the preferences page.
The Space Devs (opens in a new tab)
What do the launch labels mean?
Go means the launch is confirmed for the time shown. TBC means the date is expected but not confirmed. TBD means the date is still being worked out.
Times come from Launch Library, a public database kept up to date by volunteers and the launch providers’ own announcements. They shift often, especially close to the day, so treat them as the best current estimate.
Times are shown in your preferred time zone from the preferences page.
The Space Devs (opens in a new tab)SuccessfulScrubbed, held or canceledFailed or partial failureScheduledIn flightUnknown
SpaceX · Launch Successful
Starlink Group 15-25
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
International launch batch: 2026-232
- Planned lift-off
- accurate to the second
- Launch window
- →
- Rocket
- Falcon 9 Block 5
- From
- Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Target orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
Launch Successful: The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Full launch page at Space Launch Now (opens in a new tab)SpaceX · Launch Successful
Starlink Group 15-15
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
International launch batch: 2026-242
- Planned lift-off
- accurate to the second
- Launch window
- →
- Rocket
- Falcon 9 Block 5
- From
- Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Target orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
Launch Successful: The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Full launch page at Space Launch Now (opens in a new tab)SpaceX · Launch Successful
Starlink Group 15-16
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
International launch batch: 2026-244
- Planned lift-off
- accurate to the second
- Launch window
- →
- Rocket
- Falcon 9 Block 5
- From
- Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Target orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
Launch Successful: The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Full launch page at Space Launch Now (opens in a new tab)SpaceX · Launch Successful
Starlink Group 15-18
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
- Planned lift-off
- accurate to the second
- Launch window
- →
- Rocket
- Falcon 9 Block 5
- From
- Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Target orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
Launch Successful: The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Full launch page at Space Launch Now (opens in a new tab)SpaceX · Go for Launch
Starlink Group 15-21
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
- Planned lift-off
- accurate to the minute
- Launch window
- →
- Rocket
- Falcon 9 Block 5
- From
- Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Target orbit
- Low Earth Orbit
Go for Launch: Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Full launch page at Space Launch Now (opens in a new tab)Where they flyOrbital shells
Orbital shells In plain EnglishWhat is an orbital shell?
Starlink satellites fly in a few big rings around Earth, each at a set height and tilt. A ring like that is called a shell, and the tilt is measured from the equator.
The main shell is tilted 53 degrees, which puts satellites over the most populated parts of the world. A 43-degree shell adds capacity nearer the equator, a 70-degree shell reaches further north and south, and a near-polar shell at 97.6 degrees covers the Arctic and Antarctic.
We sort each satellite into a shell by its tilt today. The nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures for each shell.
Think of hula hoops around a ball at different angles. Each hoop is a shell; the dots are the satellites sliding around it.
What is an orbital shell?
Starlink satellites fly in a few big rings around Earth, each at a set height and tilt. A ring like that is called a shell, and the tilt is measured from the equator.
The main shell is tilted 53 degrees, which puts satellites over the most populated parts of the world. A 43-degree shell adds capacity nearer the equator, a 70-degree shell reaches further north and south, and a near-polar shell at 97.6 degrees covers the Arctic and Antarctic.
We sort each satellite into a shell by its tilt today. The nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures for each shell.
Think of hula hoops around a ball at different angles. Each hoop is a shell; the dots are the satellites sliding around it.
Sorted by each satellite’s tilt today. Nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures. Percentages are of the Starlink satellites shown below.
Context
Compared with other constellations
Objects with current orbit data in each CelesTrak group, out of 16,848 active satellites of every kind. Percentages are of the constellations shown below.
Permission versus realityHow much is approved
How much is approved In plain EnglishWhere do the approved numbers come from?
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission decides how many satellites a company may operate and where. Its orders are public documents.
In November 2022 the FCC approved up to 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites at heights of 525, 530 and 535 km and tilts of 53, 43 and 33 degrees, out of an application for 29,988. The rest was deferred, not refused.
Approval is a ceiling, not a plan or a promise. We show the approved figure so the size of the constellation has something official to be measured against.
FCC 22-91 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Where do the approved numbers come from?
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission decides how many satellites a company may operate and where. Its orders are public documents.
In November 2022 the FCC approved up to 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites at heights of 525, 530 and 535 km and tilts of 53, 43 and 33 degrees, out of an application for 29,988. The rest was deferred, not refused.
Approval is a ceiling, not a plan or a promise. We show the approved figure so the size of the constellation has something official to be measured against.
FCC 22-91 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)The FCC’s November 2022 order allowed up to 7,500 second-generation satellites out of 29,988 applied for.
3,608 satellites are in the 43° and 33° shells the order created — 48% of that approval.
What these counts mean
Orbit records, catalog entries and catalog operational status measure different things. Altitude does not establish commissioning or internet service. Hardware generation remains an estimate.
CelesTrak status: 10,891 operational · 294 partially operational · 0 spare · 0 unknown. Full status definitions (opens in a new tab).
Oldest orbit epoch: 2026-10-28T05:14:11.940Z. 2 records were older than 3.5 days when statistics were computed. Download time is separate from orbital epoch.
Where it is soldCountries where Starlink says it is available
Countries where Starlink says it is available In plain EnglishWhat do the availability statuses mean?
On the globe, country areas are shaded to the existing Natural Earth boundaries, including mapped islands. Unshaded areas have no mapped status. These country-level labels are not address-level coverage, and the shading does not show regional capacity or guarantee that an order can be placed at every address.
These are Starlink’s own words for each country, taken from the data behind the map on its website. “Service live” and “Available to order” both mean Starlink sells the service there today. “Coming soon” usually comes with a year. “Awaiting regulator approval” means the country has not yet granted a license. “Not offered” covers countries under sanctions or where Starlink has said it will not operate.
The speeds are medians Starlink publishes from its own customers’ connections: half of users see better, half worse. They are Starlink’s measurements, not ours.
This is a company describing its own product, so treat it as a claim. Where a milestone depends on availability somewhere, the milestone record cites a source independently.
The data is read once a day. If Starlink changes or removes the files, the page keeps the last good copy and says how old it is.
Starlink’s map (opens in a new tab)
What do the availability statuses mean?
On the globe, country areas are shaded to the existing Natural Earth boundaries, including mapped islands. Unshaded areas have no mapped status. These country-level labels are not address-level coverage, and the shading does not show regional capacity or guarantee that an order can be placed at every address.
These are Starlink’s own words for each country, taken from the data behind the map on its website. “Service live” and “Available to order” both mean Starlink sells the service there today. “Coming soon” usually comes with a year. “Awaiting regulator approval” means the country has not yet granted a license. “Not offered” covers countries under sanctions or where Starlink has said it will not operate.
The speeds are medians Starlink publishes from its own customers’ connections: half of users see better, half worse. They are Starlink’s measurements, not ours.
This is a company describing its own product, so treat it as a claim. Where a milestone depends on availability somewhere, the milestone record cites a source independently.
The data is read once a day. If Starlink changes or removes the files, the page keeps the last good copy and says how old it is.
Starlink’s map (opens in a new tab)Starlink’s own map data, read once a day. This is what the company says it offers, not an independent check. Country names come from the ISO 3166 standard.
| Country | Status | Starlink says | Down | Up | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania AL | Service live | launched | 345 Mbps | 59 Mbps | 22 ms |
| American Samoa AS | Service live | launched | 292 Mbps | 36 Mbps | 57 ms |
| Antarctica AQ | Service live | launched | 122 Mbps | 24 Mbps | 71 ms |
| Antigua & Barbuda AG | Service live | launched | 291 Mbps | 43 Mbps | 34 ms |
| Argentina AR | Service live | launched | 256 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 26 ms |
| Armenia AM | Service live | launched | 307 Mbps | 49 Mbps | 32 ms |
| Australia AU | Service live | launched | · | · | · |
| Austria AT | Service live | launched | 252 Mbps | 37 Mbps | 28 ms |
| Azerbaijan AZ | Service live | launched | 364 Mbps | 61 Mbps | 34 ms |
| Bahamas BS | Service live | launched | 292 Mbps | 44 Mbps | 21 ms |