SpaceX launches 10,000th Starlink internet satellite
- SpaceX has launched its 10,000th Starlink internet satellite, surpassing the previous annual launch record.
- The milestone was reached on board the 132nd Falcon 9 launch of 2025, with a total of 56 additional satellites launched on separate rockets.
- About 8,608 out of the 10,000 launched Starlink satellites are currently operational, with a lifespan of roughly five years before intentional de-orbiting.
- SpaceX has approval to launch up to 12,000 satellites as part of its Starlink constellation plan, with over 30,000 planned in total.
- The increasing number of satellite launches raises concerns about overcrowding and the potential threat it poses to space debris and global internet connectivity.
On Sunday, SpaceX launched 56 additional Starlink satellites on separate Falcon 9 rockets, surpassing 10,000 total satellites launched into low Earth orbit to date. The milestone was reached on board the 132nd Falcon 9 launch of 2025, tying the previous annual launch record with more than two full months to go in the year.
Of those 10k satellites, only about 8,608 are currently operational, according to Jonathan McDowell’s satellite tracker calculations. Starlink satellites have a lifespan of roughly five years before they’re intentionally de-orbited to burn up in the atmosphere. The first Starlink prototypes launched in February 2018 ahead of its 2021 commercial service offering.
SpaceX has approval to launch 12,000 satellites — with over 30,000 planned — to bring fast, low-latency internet to the world. Others like Amazon’s Project Kuiper and efforts in Europe and China, have their own mega constellation plans, raising concerns about the threat caused by overcrowding.