1 in Every 2 Satellites in Orbit Today Belongs to Elon's Starlink

SpaceX’s Starlink is now the most extensive satellite internet provider worldwide. According to Stocklytics.com, Starlink is operating an astounding 6111 active satellites, accounting for about 50% of all global satellites in space. 

These Starlink satellites primarily consist of  LEO satellites, operating at exceptionally low altitudes ranging from 211 to 382 miles. They connect directly with ground receivers and deliver internet service to customers through flat user terminals, allowing for fast broadband.

The site’s financial analyst, Edith Reads, comments

The growing need for reliable and secure internet connectivity has fueled the expansion of the satellite internet market. Starlink is the most aggressive player in the satellite domain, with Elon prioritizing global internet coverage.

Stocklytics financial analyst, Edith Reads

Starlink’s Satellite Presence

Since its first experimental satellite launch in 2019, Elon Musk’s Starlink has expanded tremendously. By May 2024, the firm was already meeting the internet demands of more than three million customers across 100 countries and territories. 

SpaceX has also made impressive contributions in recent months. Its Starlink satellites provided critical communications to Ukraine, helping the country defend against Russia’s invasion.

OneWeb trails Starlink in satellite internet provision; however, it only holds around 628 active satellites, a notable disparity compared to Starlink’s numbers. The London-based firm is expected to scale up, considering its deal with Eutelsat, which is projected to churn out an impressive $2 billion in revenue by 2027 and preferably challenge Starlink’s dominance.

Starlink Satellites Worry Scientists

SpaceX plans to dispatch another 42000 satellites to achieve comprehensive global internet coverage through Starlink. While this expansion of the satellite network will undoubtedly benefit Starlink and internet users worldwide, scientists from the University of Southern California’s Department of Astronautical Engineering have cautioned that a significant increase in low-Earth orbit internet satellites could lead to the release of oxides that may potentially damage the ozone layer and cause further harm to the environment.

Starlink satellites are all made with aluminum and have a lifespan of about five years. When they become non-maneuverable, SpaceX deorbits them by allowing them to fall into Earth’s atmosphere, where they burn up. This process releases significant amounts of aluminum oxides, which are highly harmful to the ozone layer. 

In 2022 alone, all falling satellites generated over 18.7 tons of aluminum oxide nanoparticles released into the atmosphere. With other satellite providers planning to increase their satellite deployments significantly, this figure could potentially escalate to 397 tons per year, hinting at catastrophic damage to the ozone layer. 

Aside from damaging the ozone layer, astronomers worry that the escalating satellite launches will hinder universal observations and may cause collision hazards in the Earth’s orbit.