Starlink, a division of SpaceX, is a satellite internet constellation operator aiming to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to underserved areas globally. With over 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit as of March 2025, Starlink offers internet services with download speeds between 50 and 220 Mbps. It utilizes phased array antennas and optical space lasers for global coverage and supports various applications, including remote work, disaster recovery, and IoT. Keywords associated with Starlink are satellite internet, SpaceX, broadband, and LEO constellation.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
As of 2021-08-24, SpaceX planned the next Starlink launch in roughly three weeks.
Starlink is at an advanced stage of deploying its mega-constellation and is discussing using SpaceX’s Starship to launch as many as 400 satellites at a time.
One revised Starlink Gen2 configuration continues to use Falcon 9 rockets for launching satellites.
Gen2 spacecraft will rely on collision-avoidance software and on-board propulsion to mitigate debris threats, as with the more than 1,600 Starlink satellites SpaceX currently operates at around 550 km altitude.
The Falcon 9-launched Starlink Gen2 configuration would spread 29,996 satellites across 12 orbital inclinations at altitudes between 328 and 614 km.
Viasat has launched legal action against SpaceX seeking to compel an environmental review of SpaceX’s Starlink expansion plans.
Recent Planet launches with SpaceX included SkySats 16–18 and 19–21 aboard Starlink missions.
A U.S. federal court blocked Viasat's request to suspend the Federal Communications Commission’s modification of its license for SpaceX’s Starlink constellation.
Viasat argued that the FCC's license modification for Starlink required an environmental review due to its impact on astronomy.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied Viasat’s 2021-07-20 motion to halt Starlink’s deployment while seeking an environmental review of the megaconstellation.
Viasat is calling on the FCC to review nearly $900,000,000 of rural broadband subsidies that SpaceX won in December for Starlink.
The 2021-04-27 license modification enables SpaceX to continue expanding the Starlink constellation.
SpaceX is slated to start building out polar orbital planes of its Starlink constellation later 2021 with a series of launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base to enable polar-region coverage.
SpaceX’s Starlink can be used by telcos to help meet coverage targets required under 0.005 kg licenses by serving hard-to-reach rural areas.
Starlink charges customers $500 for a user terminal dish, which currently costs the company more than $1,000 to produce.
Elon Musk expected to have invested at least $5,000,000,000 and potentially up to $10,000,000,000 in Starlink before the service starts generating positive cash flow.
Elon Musk estimated total investment in Starlink could reach between $20,000,000,000 and $30,000,000,000.
SpaceX established its smallsat rideshare program nearly two years prior to Transporter-2, offering low-cost dedicated Falcon 9 launches and rides on Starlink missions.
SpaceX flew three Starlink satellites on Transporter-2 that will join 10 Starlink satellites launched into polar orbit on Transporter-1.
The Falcon 9 first stage used on Transporter-2 previously supported the launches of GPS III Space Vehicle 03, Turksat 5A, and five Starlink missions.