SpaceX has reached a major milestone by launching more than 10,000 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
The company achieved this on Sunday after sending 56 more satellites aboard separate Falcon 9 rockets. This launch also marked the 132nd Falcon 9 mission of 2025, tying SpaceX’s previous annual launch record with over two months still left in the year.
Out of the more than 10,000 satellites launched so far, around 8,600 are currently active, according to satellite expert Jonathan McDowell. Each Starlink satellite has a lifespan of about five years before it is intentionally brought back into Earth’s atmosphere, where it burns up safely. The first Starlink prototypes were launched in February 2018, and the company began offering commercial internet services in 2021.
SpaceX has been granted permission to launch up to 12,000 satellites and plans to expand that number to over 30,000 in the coming years. The goal is to deliver fast and reliable internet access with low latency to users around the world. Other companies like Amazon’s Project Kuiper, as well as initiatives in Europe and China, are also developing their own satellite networks.
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