Constellation
Starlink in numbers In plain EnglishWhat is an orbital shell?
Starlink satellites fly in a few big rings around Earth, each at a set height and tilt. A ring like that is called a shell, and the tilt is measured from the equator.
The main shell is tilted 53 degrees, which puts satellites over the most populated parts of the world. A 43-degree shell adds capacity nearer the equator, a 70-degree shell reaches further north and south, and a near-polar shell at 97.6 degrees covers the Arctic and Antarctic.
We sort each satellite into a shell by its tilt today. The nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures for each shell.
Think of hula hoops around a ball at different angles. Each hoop is a shell; the dots are the satellites sliding around it.
What is an orbital shell?
Starlink satellites fly in a few big rings around Earth, each at a set height and tilt. A ring like that is called a shell, and the tilt is measured from the equator.
The main shell is tilted 53 degrees, which puts satellites over the most populated parts of the world. A 43-degree shell adds capacity nearer the equator, a 70-degree shell reaches further north and south, and a near-polar shell at 97.6 degrees covers the Arctic and Antarctic.
We sort each satellite into a shell by its tilt today. The nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures for each shell.
Think of hula hoops around a ball at different angles. Each hoop is a shell; the dots are the satellites sliding around it.
How many satellites there are, where they fly, how fast the fleet has grown and what is launching next. All of it is arithmetic on public orbit data, refreshed once a day.
What does “at working height” mean?
New satellites are dropped off low, around 300 km, and spend weeks climbing to their working height using tiny electric thrusters. At the end of life they are steered back down to burn up.
We call 450 to 600 km the working band because that covers every Starlink shell’s stated height. Anything below is either climbing after launch or coming down; anything above is rare.
This is a height rule, not a status from SpaceX. A satellite low in the band might be perfectly healthy and simply new.
From the first batch to today In plain EnglishHow is the growth line calculated?
Every satellite has a launch date and, if it has come down, a retirement date in the public catalogue. For each month we add the ones launched and take away the ones that came down.
The result is how many were in orbit at the end of each month, right back to the first launch in the catalogue.
Retirement dates come from the same public catalogue, so the in-orbit line already has the roughly 1,700 satellites that have come down taken out. It is a good picture of growth, not an audited ledger.
How is the growth line calculated?
Every satellite has a launch date and, if it has come down, a retirement date in the public catalogue. For each month we add the ones launched and take away the ones that came down.
The result is how many were in orbit at the end of each month, right back to the first launch in the catalogue.
Retirement dates come from the same public catalogue, so the in-orbit line already has the roughly 1,700 satellites that have come down taken out. It is a good picture of growth, not an audited ledger.
Satellites in the public catalogue at the end of each month, 2019-05 to 2026-09.
Show as a table
| Month | Launched to date | In orbit |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-05 | 60 | 60 |
| 2019-11 | 120 | 120 |
| 2020-05 | 420 | 415 |
| 2020-11 | 953 | 895 |
| 2021-05 | 1,735 | 1,663 |
| 2021-11 | 1,842 | 1,709 |
| 2022-05 | 2,619 | 2,405 |
| 2022-11 | 3,524 | 3,268 |
| 2023-05 | 4,487 | 4,198 |
| 2023-11 | 5,479 | 5,141 |
| 2024-05 | 6,494 | 6,077 |
| 2024-11 | 7,427 | 6,805 |
| 2025-05 | 8,749 | 7,650 |
| 2025-11 | 10,411 | 9,093 |
| 2026-05 | 12,086 | 10,506 |
| 2026-09 | 12,863 | 11,120 |
Orbital shells In plain EnglishWhat is an orbital shell?
Starlink satellites fly in a few big rings around Earth, each at a set height and tilt. A ring like that is called a shell, and the tilt is measured from the equator.
The main shell is tilted 53 degrees, which puts satellites over the most populated parts of the world. A 43-degree shell adds capacity nearer the equator, a 70-degree shell reaches further north and south, and a near-polar shell at 97.6 degrees covers the Arctic and Antarctic.
We sort each satellite into a shell by its tilt today. The nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures for each shell.
Think of hula hoops around a ball at different angles. Each hoop is a shell; the dots are the satellites sliding around it.
What is an orbital shell?
Starlink satellites fly in a few big rings around Earth, each at a set height and tilt. A ring like that is called a shell, and the tilt is measured from the equator.
The main shell is tilted 53 degrees, which puts satellites over the most populated parts of the world. A 43-degree shell adds capacity nearer the equator, a 70-degree shell reaches further north and south, and a near-polar shell at 97.6 degrees covers the Arctic and Antarctic.
We sort each satellite into a shell by its tilt today. The nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures for each shell.
Think of hula hoops around a ball at different angles. Each hoop is a shell; the dots are the satellites sliding around it.
Sorted by each satellite’s tilt today. Nominal heights are SpaceX’s stated figures.
Compared with other constellations
Objects with current orbit data in each CelesTrak group.
How much is approved In plain EnglishWhere do the approved numbers come from?
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission decides how many satellites a company may operate and where. Its orders are public documents.
In November 2022 the FCC approved up to 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites at heights of 525, 530 and 535 km and tilts of 53, 43 and 33 degrees, out of an application for 29,988. The rest was deferred, not refused.
Approval is a ceiling, not a plan or a promise. We show the approved figure so the size of the constellation has something official to be measured against.
FCC 22-91 (PDF) →
Where do the approved numbers come from?
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission decides how many satellites a company may operate and where. Its orders are public documents.
In November 2022 the FCC approved up to 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites at heights of 525, 530 and 535 km and tilts of 53, 43 and 33 degrees, out of an application for 29,988. The rest was deferred, not refused.
Approval is a ceiling, not a plan or a promise. We show the approved figure so the size of the constellation has something official to be measured against.
FCC 22-91 (PDF) →The FCC’s November 2022 order allowed up to 7,500 second-generation satellites out of 29,988 applied for.
3,619 satellites are in the 43° and 33° shells the order created — 48% of that approval.
Upcoming launches In plain EnglishWhat do the launch labels mean?
Go means the launch is confirmed for the time shown. TBC means the date is expected but not confirmed. TBD means the date is still being worked out.
Times come from Launch Library, a public database kept up to date by volunteers and the launch providers’ own announcements. They shift often, especially close to the day, so treat them as the best current estimate.
Times are shown in your preferred time zone from the preferences page.
The Space Devs →
What do the launch labels mean?
Go means the launch is confirmed for the time shown. TBC means the date is expected but not confirmed. TBD means the date is still being worked out.
Times come from Launch Library, a public database kept up to date by volunteers and the launch providers’ own announcements. They shift often, especially close to the day, so treat them as the best current estimate.
Times are shown in your preferred time zone from the preferences page.
The Space Devs →- Starlink Group 15-27Go for Launch
- Starlink Group 31-1 (Starship Flight 14)To Be Confirmed
Recent launches
- Starlink Group 15-24Launch Successful
- Starlink Group 15-23Launch Successful
- Starlink Group 15-22Launch Successful
- Starlink Group 10-49Launch Successful
- Starlink Group 15-20Launch Successful
- Starlink Group 10-39Launch Successful
Starlink above you In plain EnglishHow does “above you now” work?
Your browser works out where every satellite is right now and checks which ones are above your horizon by at least 25 degrees, which is roughly what a Starlink dish needs.
Your location never leaves your device. It is used once, in your browser, and is not stored or sent anywhere. You can type coordinates instead of sharing your position.
Seeing a satellite listed does not mean you could spot it with your eyes; that depends on darkness and sunlight on the satellite.
How does “above you now” work?
Your browser works out where every satellite is right now and checks which ones are above your horizon by at least 25 degrees, which is roughly what a Starlink dish needs.
Your location never leaves your device. It is used once, in your browser, and is not stored or sent anywhere. You can type coordinates instead of sharing your position.
Seeing a satellite listed does not mean you could spot it with your eyes; that depends on darkness and sunlight on the satellite.
Counts satellites at least 25° above your horizon this second. Your position stays on your device.