Elon Musk has further cemented his dominance in the space industry with the SpaceX constellation size controlling nearly two-thirds of all active satellites currently orbiting Earth. This milestone follows the launch of SpaceX’s 7,000th Starlink satellite, which has propelled the total number of active satellites under its belt to an impressive 6,370.
The SpaceX constellation size of the Starlink network has been growing at an unprecedented pace, averaging three satellite launches per day since its inception in 2019. According to data from the non-profit satellite tracker CelesTrak, SpaceX now commands over 62 percent of the world’s operational satellites, a figure nearly ten times greater than its closest competitor, OneWeb. The UK-based company has found itself reliant on SpaceX for satellite launches after the Russian invasion of Ukraine halted its partnership with Russia’s Soyuz.
Designed to provide high-speed internet and phone connectivity globally, the Starlink constellation operates in 102 countries and serves over three million customers.
With plans to launch up to 42,000 satellites in total, SpaceX aims to extend its coverage to even more regions. Notably, countries like Afghanistan, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria are excluded from this expansion due to trade embargoes and internet restrictions. However, reports indicate that illegal Starlink equipment has made its way into these restricted regions, particularly Iran.
Musk recently tweeted, “Starlink now constitutes roughly 2/3 of all active Earth satellites,” emphasizing his substantial control over this satellite network. This dominance has raised concerns regarding the influence Musk wields through Starlink, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter). He once claimed, “Between Tesla, Starlink, and Twitter, I may have more real-time global economic data in one head than anyone ever.”
Despite its rapid growth, Starlink faces challenges, including recent regulatory hurdles in Brazil. Following a ban on the X platform imposed by lawmakers, Starlink initially made the app available to its users but later complied with the legal order.
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As the SpaceX constellation size continues to expand, the implications of Musk’s control over global satellite communication become increasingly significant.
