# Constellation and Orbits Hub: [[Topics/Starlink/Starlink|Starlink]] · Related: [[Topics/Starlink/Ground Network and Laser Links|Ground Network and Laser Links]] · [[Topics/Starlink/Vocabulary|Vocabulary]] ## How big it is (Oct 24, 2026) Jonathan McDowell's tracker, data as of Oct 24, 2026, 2:29 PM CT ([stats](https://planet4589.org/space/con/star/stats.html)): | Measure | Satellites | |---|---:| | Launched | 13,042 | | Reentered or down | 1,872 | | In orbit | 11,170 | | Working | 11,155 | | In operational orbit | 10,022 | | Gen2 launched / operational | 8,282 / 7,643 | McDowell tracks Starshield satellites separately; they are not in these counts. Starlink's own 2025 report says "more than 9,000 active satellites" ([Progress Report 2025](https://starlink.com/public-files/starlinkProgressReport_2025.pdf)). ## Why low Earth orbit Starlink satellites fly a few hundred kilometres up, not at 35,786 km like geostationary satellites. That cuts latency to tens of milliseconds (Starlink reports a median of about 26 ms, aiming for 20 ms) but means each satellite crosses the sky in minutes, so the terminal hands off between satellites many times a minute (see [[Topics/Starlink/Ground Network and Laser Links|Ground Network]]). It also means you need thousands of satellites for continuous coverage. ## Licences and shells - **Gen1:** the FCC had authorized 4,408 Gen1 satellites by Dec 2022 ([FCC-22-91](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-91A1.txt), para. on cumulative effects). - **Gen2, Dec 2022:** a partial grant of 7,500 satellites "at altitudes of 525, 530, and 535 km and inclinations of 53, 43, and 33 degrees, respectively, using frequencies in the Ku- and Ka-band" ([FCC-22-91](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-91A1.txt)). SpaceX had asked for 29,988. The FCC capped operations below 580 km and allowed orbital tolerances of +70/−50 km around each shell. - **Gen2, Jan 2026:** the FCC approved another 7,500 Gen2 satellites, for 15,000 in all ([Reuters, Jan 9, 2026](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fcc-approves-spacex-plan-deploy-additional-7500-starlink-satellites-2026-01-09/)) ⚠️ (paywalled; from a search summary). - **Inclination matters:** 53° shells cover most populated latitudes; 43° and 33° shells add capacity nearer the equator. Ukraine (44–52° N) is served mainly by the 53° shells ⚠️ (inference from geometry, not a SpaceX statement). ## Satellite generations - **V2 Mini / V2 Mini Optimized:** the current workhorse, launched on Falcon 9. In 2025 SpaceX flew 120+ Starlink missions and added 3,000+ V2 Mini Optimized satellites, adding 270+ Tbps of capacity. Each has three laser links ([Progress Report 2025](https://starlink.com/public-files/starlinkProgressReport_2025.pdf)). - **V3:** targeted to launch on Starship in 2026, with more than 1 Tbps downlink and 200 Gbps uplink per satellite and about 60 Tbps added per launch, flying at lower altitudes ([Progress Report 2025](https://starlink.com/public-files/starlinkProgressReport_2025.pdf)). - **Direct to Cell:** more than 650 satellites that act as cell towers for ordinary phones through mobile operators ([Progress Report 2025](https://starlink.com/public-files/starlinkProgressReport_2025.pdf)). ## Orbits for positioning (PNT) Terminals need to know where every satellite is. Kutkov's teardown work says terminals download orbital elements from a SpaceX server rather than tracking satellites blind, then run a "sky search" at boot ([olegkutkov.me, 2023](https://olegkutkov.me/2023/11/07/connecting-external-gps-antenna-to-the-starlink-terminal/)) ⚠️ single-source. See [[Topics/Starlink/User Terminals and GNSS|User Terminals and GNSS]].