How many Starlink satellites are in orbit right now? (October 2026)
As of October 5, 2026, 11,149 Starlink satellites are in CelesTrak's active catalog, about 67% of all active satellites. SpaceX has launched about 12,900 all-time, and about 11,100 are working, per Jonathan McDowell (September 2026).
Data updated: October 5, 2026, 03:03 UTC · source data refreshed every 2 hours from CelesTrak
Launched vs in orbit vs working: why the numbers differ
"Launched" counts every Starlink ever flown (about 12,900, McDowell). "In orbit" counts those still up there, including units being deorbited (azmth's live figure: 11,149 in the active catalog). "Working" counts satellites still in orbit minus those thought to have failed, so it includes units being lowered for disposal (about 11,100, McDowell). Roughly 1,751 units have already reentered or left the active catalog, which is why the launched total is higher than the in-orbit count.
| Measure | Count | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Launched all-time | ~12,900 | Jonathan McDowell (September 2026) |
| In orbit and active | 11,149 | azmth / CelesTrak (live) |
| Working | ~11,100 | Jonathan McDowell (September 2026) |
azmth's count matches on the STARLINK name in CelesTrak's catalog, so it includes just-launched units that are not yet in service. That is why it will not exactly match the launched or working totals, which come from a different source and update on a different schedule.
How many Starlink satellites launched in 2026?
At least 2,163 Starlink satellites launched in 2026 are still in orbit and active. That is 68% of all satellites launched and still active this year. Like every launched-this-year figure on azmth, this is a floor that can decrease as satellites deorbit; see satellites launched this year for all constellations.
Active Starlink satellites by launch year
| Launch year | Still active in catalog |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 183 |
| 2021 | 566 |
| 2022 | 1,436 |
| 2023 | 1,792 |
| 2024 | 1,857 |
| 2025 | 3,140 |
| 2026 | 2,163 |
Active-catalog counts, not launch totals: satellites that have already reentered no longer appear against their launch year.
How many Starlink satellites are planned?
SpaceX's regulatory filings with the ITU and FCC cover up to about 42,000 Starlink satellites. That is a planned ceiling, not a launch schedule, and it is subject to change.
Can you see the Starlink train tonight?
Freshly launched Starlink batches fly in a tight line (the "Starlink train") for days after launch and are often naked-eye visible after sunset. azmth detects current trains automatically on the Starlink train tracker, and if you already saw something, the sighting identifier can tell you which launch it was.
Methodology
Live counts come from CelesTrak's active catalog, refreshed every 2 hours; launched and working totals come from Jonathan McDowell's independent Starlink statistics. Methodology details on the about page.
These numbers are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with the credit "azmth.space (data: CelesTrak)". Cite as: "azmth satellite statistics, azmth.space/stats, data from CelesTrak, retrieved October 5, 2026." Raw numbers: stats.json · full details on the data page.
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