A New Milestone for SpaceX
With the successful launch of the 7,000th Starlink satellite this week, Elon Musk’s SpaceX now controls nearly two-thirds of all active satellites orbiting Earth. The internet satellite constellation has expanded at an astonishing rate, averaging three new satellites per day since its inaugural launch in 2019.
The rise of Starlink
According to the latest data from non-profit satellite tracker CelesTrak, SpaceX has 6,370 active Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit. This figure has surged more than six-fold in just three years and accounts for over 62 percent of all operational satellites. In comparison, Starlink’s closest competitor, UK-based startup OneWeb, has roughly one-tenth the number of satellites.
Global internet connectivity
SpaceX aims to launch up to 42,000 satellites to complete the Starlink constellation, which promises to deliver high-speed internet and phone connectivity to even the most remote corners of the globe. Currently, Starlink operates in 102 countries and serves more than three million customers, who access the network through a $300 ground-based dish and pay a monthly fee.
The company plans to expand its service to dozens more countries. However, nations like Afghanistan, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria are not on the current waitlist due to internet restrictions or trade embargos. Despite these limitations, people in these countries have found ways to access the network through illegally imported equipment. Notably, activists in Iran smuggled dozens of Starlink receivers into the country in 2022.
SpaceX’s growing influence
“Starlink now constitutes roughly 2/3 of all active Earth satellites,” Musk posted on X following the latest SpaceX launch, which saw 21 additional Starlinks delivered into space aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Thursday.
This dominance has raised concerns about the amount of power Musk wields through his control of SpaceX and the Starlink network. “Between Tesla, Starlink, and Twitter, I may have more real-time global economic data in one head than anyone ever,” the tech mogul tweeted in April 2023.
Regulatory challenges
SpaceX’s monopolistic growth isn’t without its challenges. Last week, Brazilian lawmakers introduced a ban on the social media platform X, also owned by Musk. Initially, Starlink made the app available to its customers in Brazil but has since complied with the blocking order.
As SpaceX continues to expand its Starlink constellation, the world watches closely. The company’s ambitious plans and rapid growth underscore the transformative potential of satellite internet, but they also highlight the complex regulatory and ethical landscape that comes with such unprecedented influence in space.