Transport & space · 2019

Starlink

Thousands of low-orbit satellites deliver broadband anywhere on Earth.

SpaceX launched the first 60 operational Starlink satellites in May 2019. Cheap reusable launches made a constellation of thousands affordable; it now has more than 8,000 satellites in orbit and several million subscribers. It provides internet to ships, aircraft and remote regions.

See it in the living tree Wikipedia

Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 1

Reusable orbital rocket 2015

What it led to 5

Watch

Watch SpaceX deploy Starlink satellites into spaceCNET Highlights · YouTube

Related measurements

The dashed line marks when it first worked.

Payloads in low Earth orbit Latest: 14.5k objects (2025) Source: Our World in Data

Objects launched into space Latest: 4.51k per year (2025) Source: Our World in Data

Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people Latest: 20.1 per 100 people (2025) Source: Our World in Data