Largest satellite constellation

The largest satellite constellation is Starlink, operated by SpaceX (USA). As of 3 January 2025, there are 6,857 active Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit, 6,176 of which are part of the operational constellation. Starlink is a satellite internet service, designed to offer faster connections with more wide ranging coverage than its rivals.

The first few interations of the Starlink satellite had a mass of around 200–300 kg (440–660 lb) with a single rectangular solar panel and hall-effect thrusters for orbital station keeping. The Version 2 Starlink satellites are much larger, with a mass of around 1,250 kg (2,750 lb). The plan is for the final Starlink constellation to have around 12,000 satellites orbiting between 540 and 570 km (335.5 and 354.2 mi) above the Earth.

The Starlink constellation, which dwarfs any previous satellite network, has been criticised by many observers. Spacefaring nations other than the USA have raised concerns about the risk of orbital collisions as a result of the increased traffic, and astronomers worldwide have complained about the impact they will have on astronomy.