SpaceX launches the 10,000th Starlink Internet satellite

SpaceX on Sunday launched 56 additional Starlink satellites on separate Falcon 9 rockets. Total exceeded 10,000 satellites They have been launched in low Earth orbit so far. The feat was achieved aboard the 132nd launch of a Falcon 9 rocket in 2025, matching the previous annual launch record with more than two full months remaining in the year.

Of those 10,000 satellites, only about 8,608 are currently operational, according to Reuters. Jonathan McDowell’s satellite tracking calculations. Starlink satellites have a lifespan of about five years before they are deliberately deorbited to burn up in the atmosphere. Starlink prototypes were launched in February 2018 ahead of the 2021 commercial service demonstration.

SpaceX has received approval to launch 12,000 satellites — with more than 30,000 planned — to provide fast, low-latency internet to the world. Other projects, such as Amazon’s Kuiper project and efforts in Europe and China, have their own huge plans. Which raises concerns about the threat posed by overcrowding.