Starlink and Starshield services, a SpaceX subsidiary

S&T – SPACE

15 JANUARY 2026

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, providing coverage to around 150 countries and territories.
SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites in 2019.
As of January 2026, the constellation consists of over 9,422 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) that communicate with designated ground transceivers.
Starlink comprises 65% of all active satellites.
Nearly 12,000 satellites are planned, with a possible later extension to 34,400.
Starlink has been extensively used in the Russo-Ukrainian War, a role for which it has been contracted by the United States Department of Defense.
Starshield, a military version of Starlink, launched in December 2022, is designed for government use.
Starlink’s technology is reportedly a front-runner for the U.S. Golden Dome missile defense system that involves placing weapons into orbit.
Astronomers raised concerns about the effect the constellation would have on ground-based astronomy, and how the satellites contribute to an already congested orbital environment.
Also, Starlink satellites are falling from the sky, as they intentionally de-orbit and burn up in the atmosphere after their 5-year lifespan, appearing as bright fireballs, though scientists are concerned about increasing atmospheric pollution from this.