SpaceX surpasses 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit

SpaceX has officially launched over 10,000 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, marking a significant milestone in its mission to provide global internet coverage.

The achievement came on October 19, 2025, with the launch of 56 additional satellites on separate Falcon 9 rockets, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The milestone coincided with the company’s 132nd Falcon 9 launch of the year, tying the previous annual launch record with more than two months still left in 2025. Of the 10,000 satellites launched, around 8,608 are currently operational, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.

Starlink satellites, which have an average lifespan of five years, are designed to be de-orbited and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their operational life. The first prototypes were launched in February 2018, paving the way for the service’s commercial rollout in 2021.

SpaceX has regulatory approval to launch up to 12,000 Starlink satellites, with plans to expand the constellation to over 30,000 to deliver fast, low-latency internet to underserved regions worldwide. Other tech giants, including Amazon with its Project Kuiper, and initiatives in Europe and China, have similar mega-constellation ambitions, raising concerns among experts about overcrowding and space debris in low Earth orbit.

By Vugar Khalilov