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.
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SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites that were released from a Falcon 9 upper stage into a 440-kilometer low Earth orbit on 2019-05-23.
Five of the 60 Starlink satellites from the 2019-05-23 launch remain in initial lower orbits undergoing tests and it is unclear when or if they will reach operational orbit.
SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites on 2019-05-23, of which three are no longer responding to ground commands and appear to be dead.
SpaceX launched the first set of 60 Starlink satellites on 2019-05-23.
Elon Musk indicated that Starlink needs around 800 satellites to reach significant operational capability and around 1,000 satellites to become economically viable.
SpaceX is building the Starlink broadband megaconstellation planned to include up to 12,000 satellites.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX president and COO, estimated the Starlink constellation would cost around $10,000,000,000.
Elon Musk indicated that Starlink does not require 12,000 satellites to be successful and that SpaceX could scale the constellation up to 12,000 satellites based on demand.
Elon Musk indicated that the combination of launch revenue and capital raised provides SpaceX with sufficient resources to undertake the Starlink deployment to an operational level.
SpaceX intends to use Starlink revenue to help fund its goal of establishing a colony on Mars and to help fund a base on the Moon.
Starlink terminals are designed to switch between satellites in under a thousandth of a second and to support overall latency under 20 milliseconds.
SpaceX could launch 1,000 to 2,000 Starlink satellites per year using its Falcon family of rockets.
SpaceX postponed its first large Starlink launch by 24 hours to a new launch window opening at 10:30 p.m. Eastern on 2019-05-16.
SpaceX plans three to seven Starlink launches in the year referenced by company leadership on 2019-05-07.
Starlink will provide continual coverage of limited geographies at around 400 satellites, equivalent to seven launches.
SpaceX provided updated commercial service targets for the Starlink constellation on 2019-03-15.
SpaceX launched two prototype Starlink satellites in February 2018.
SpaceX received U.S. market access for a Starlink constellation numbering almost 12,000 satellites.
As of 2019-04-26, SpaceX plans a Starlink launch no earlier than May.
SpaceX launched two Starlink prototypes in February 2018 and has been testing them since, including with the U.S. Department of Defense.