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List of Starlink and Starshield launches

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX providing satellite Internet access to most of the Earth.

Starshield is a classified derivative of Starlink designed to be operated for, and which can host payloads for, military or government purposes.

Falcon 9 launches

Starlink launches

The deployment of the first 1,440 satellites will be into 72 orbital planes of 20 satellites each, with a requested lower minimum elevation angle of beams to improve reception: 25° rather than the 40° of the other two orbital shells. SpaceX launched the first 60 satellites of the constellation in May 2019 into a 450 km orbit and expected up to six launches in 2019 at that time, with 720 satellites (12 × 60) for continuous coverage in 2020.

In August 2019, SpaceX expected four more launches in 2019 and at least nine launches in 2020, but since January 2020 expectations had increased to 24 total launches in 2020.

In March 2020, SpaceX reported producing six satellites per day.

In February 2021, Musk stated that the satellites are traveling on 25 orbital planes clustered between 53° north and south of the equator.

Totals

As of 19 April 2026:

  • Satellites launched: 11,853
  • Satellites failed or deorbited: 1,586
  • Satellites in orbit: 10,283
  • Satellites working: 10,267
  • Satellites operational: 8,651

Totals

As of 19 April 2026:

  • Satellites launched: 11,853
  • Satellites failed or deorbited: 1,586
  • Satellites in orbit: 10,283
  • Satellites working: 10,267
  • Satellites operational: 8,651

Starshield

Starship launches

Starlink launches

SpaceX envisions to launch larger and more capable Starlink satellites on Starship, a rocket with a much larger payload capacity that is under development.

See also

References

  1. Eric Ralph. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reveals next-generation Starlink satellite details Teslarati, May 30, 2022, retrieved June 5, 2022^
  2. Anthony Iemole. SpaceX launches first mission to third shell of Starlink constellation NASASpaceFlight.com, 2022-07-10, retrieved 2024-07-12^
  3. Starlink Mission SpaceX, July 11, 2024, retrieved July 12, 2024^
  4. Jeff Foust. SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage fails leaving Starlink satellites in wrong orbit Spaceflight Now, 2024-07-12, retrieved 2024-07-12^
  5. Jonathan's Space Report planet4589.org, retrieved 2024-12-16^
  6. Jonathan McDowell. Jonathan's Space Report No. 842 23 March 2025, retrieved 23 March 2025^
  7. Starlink G13-4 Pre-Launch Celestrak, 2025-07-31, retrieved 2025-09-04^
  8. Jonathan's Space Report - Latest Issue Starlink Group 13-4 (19 Ku sats) was launched on Jul 31 from Vandenberg. Two Starshield sats (USA 549, USA 550) were also aboard. www.planet4589.org, retrieved 2025-08-01^
  9. The Starlink "mini laser" shown in today's video will connect third party satellites and space stations into the Starlink constellation. The mini laser is designed to achieve link speeds of 25 Gbps at distances up to 4000 km, and was recently successfully tested in orbit on a satellite launched on Starlink G10-20. X (Formerly Twitter)^
  10. Falcon 9 Block 5 nextspaceflight.com, retrieved 2024-09-06^
  11. Jonathan McDowell. Jonathan's Space Report No. 840 draft (Starshield launch 6 on Dec 17 had 22 sats, not 21. ) retrieved 17 December 2024^
  12. Jonathan McDowell. Jonathan's Space Report No. 841 23 January 2025, retrieved 23 January 2025^
  13. Mike Wall. SpaceX catches Super Heavy booster on Starship Flight 7 test but loses upper stage (video, photos) Space.com, 2025-01-16, retrieved 2025-01-16^
  14. Jackie Wattles. SpaceX executes second-ever 'chopsticks' booster catch but Starship spacecraft is lost CNN, 2025-01-16, retrieved 2025-01-16^
  15. Starship's Eighth Flight Test SpaceX.com, 2025-02-27, retrieved 2025-02-27^
  16. Starship's Ninth Flight Test SpaceX, 2025-05-23, retrieved 2025-05-23^
  17. SpaceX SpaceX, retrieved 2025-09-07^
  18. NASASpaceflight. SECO Achieved + Elon Musk's 2026 Mars Plan! 2 June 2025, retrieved 2 June 2025^
  19. Maritime Safety Information Products www.navcen.uscg.gov, retrieved 23 September 2025^
  20. <ref name="adv-tv1"> SpaceX plans "ride share" Starlink launch Advanced Television, January 7, 2021, retrieved January 22, 2021^
  21. Michael Baylor. SpaceX is set to fly a Falcon booster for a record 10th time as early as Sunday^
  22. SpaceX raising over US$500 million, double what Elon Musk's company planned to bring in CNBC, March 9, 2020, retrieved March 9, 2020^
  23. SpaceX wants to land Starship on the moon within three years, president says, with people soon after CNBC, October 27, 2019, retrieved October 28, 2019^
  24. Cosmic Penguin. BTW it looks all but certain 2 out of 22 Starlink satellites on just-launched Group 7-16 are actually "Starshield" sats of the US military:* Mysterious drop outs in live cam feeds from the 2nd stage during ascent* No forward looking camera views seen as per usual practices^
  25. Mission Starfield D-Orbit, January 31, 2023, retrieved January 31, 2023^
  26. D-Orbit Signs In-Orbit Validation Contract with Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) D-Orbit, December 15, 2022, retrieved January 29, 2023^
  27. SAT-MOD-20181108-00083/SATMOD2018110800083 Federal Communications Commission, November 18, 2018, retrieved 24 March 2019^
  28. Lukas C.H. Image of a Starlink V2 Mini satellite in orbit. This also confirms that V2 Mini satellites gave 2 solar arrays xompared to the V1.5 satellites which have 1 solar array.^
  29. Lukas C.H. Tranche 0 flight 1's 2 tracking layer sats' matches the on-orbit images released on starshield page for Starshield sats^
  30. USA 320, ..., 323, 328, ..., 331 Gunter's Space Page, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  31. Tracking Layer Tranche-0 WFOV 1, ..., 4 Gunter's Space Page, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  32. MicroSat 2a, 2b (Tintin A, B) Gunter's Space Page, retrieved August 8, 2020^
  33. Starlink Block v1.0 Gunter's Space Page, retrieved July 15, 2020^
  34. Starlink Block v0.9 Gunter's Space Page, retrieved August 8, 2020^
  35. Starlink Block v1.5 Gunter's Space Page, retrieved January 10, 2022^
  36. Starlink Statistics Jonathan's Space Pages, June 1, 2023, retrieved June 1, 2023^
  37. Rocket Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral launchphotography.com, retrieved August 4, 2020^
  38. OrbTrack - Online Satellite Tracker (43216) www.lizard-tail.com, retrieved July 17, 2020^
  39. OrbTrack - Online Satellite Tracker (43217) www.lizard-tail.com, retrieved July 17, 2020^
  40. Jonathan McDowell. Starlink orbit status. Around 27 October 2019, object 44240 (Starlink 26) was lowered slightly out of the active constellation. Still no satellites deorbited: all 60 still being tracked. 31 October 2019, retrieved 12 November 2019^
  41. Jonathan McDowell. Object 51470, one of the failed Starlink satellites from the recent launch, reentered at 1708 UTC Feb 12 off the coast of California. I believe this to be the last of the failed satellites to reenter; the remaining 11 satellites still being tracked are slowly raising their orbits^
  42. Jonathan McDowell. The first of the SDA-0A launch satellites has been cataloged in a 941 x 952 km x 81.0 deg orbit. Although the very precise 81.0000 degree inclination makes me wonder if that's just a search orbit rather than actual tracking data.^
  43. Jonathan McDowell. For the first time, a satellite launched initially into shell 4 has manuevered its orbit to join the shell 1 satellites. Starlink 3680 was launched in Mar 2022 and reached 539 x 541 km x 53.22 deg in Jun 2022^
  44. Jonathan McDowell. The identification of the Electron payload 2024-053A as "USA 352" changes the balance of evidence on the Mar 19 Starlink Group 7-16 launch: it now seems likely that it DID carry two classified payloads, likely Starshield, to be designated USA 350 and USA 351 (59274/59275?)^
  45. Jonathan McDowell. Space-Track have cataloged objects from the Mar 19 Starlink launch and it is now confirmed that two secret satellites were aboard, USA 350 and USA 351 (presumed Starshield sats) that are cataloged as 2024-050W and X (59274 and 59275).^
  46. Jonathan McDowell. Based on gaps in the catalog the evidence is that 21 catalog numbers were reserved for the Starshield launch on May 22. That probably means 21 satellites, or maybe 20 satellites and a piece of adapter hardware if the design isn't entirely like V2Mini.^
  47. Elon Musk. First two Starlink demo satellites, called Tintin A and B, deployed and communicating to Earth stations^
  48. Elon Musk. These are production design, unlike our earlier Tintin demo sats^
  49. Elon Musk. These are V1.5 Starlinks with laser inter-satellite links, which are needed for high latitudes and mid-ocean coverage^
  50. TINTIN A n2yo.com, retrieved November 12, 2019^
  51. Stunning Light Show Across US Skies Leaves Netizens in Awe, Turns Out to be SpaceX Rocket Junk News 18: Buzz, March 26, 2021, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  52. SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with PAZ, Starlink demo and new fairing NASASpaceflight.com, February 22, 2018, retrieved May 12, 2019^
  53. SpaceX's Third Operational Starlink Mission launches NASASpaceflight.com, January 29, 2020, retrieved March 9, 2020^
  54. SpaceX ready for Transporter 2 rideshare mission NASASpaceflight.com, 29 June 2021, retrieved 29 June 2021^
  55. SpaceX enters busy December with Starlink launch from Florida NASASpaceflight.com, December 2, 2021, retrieved January 20, 2022^
  56. SpaceX Falcon 9 completes rare 53° inclination launch from Vandenberg NASASpaceflight.com, December 17, 2021, retrieved January 20, 2022^
  57. SpaceX conducts first orbital launch of 2022 with Starlink Group 4-5 NASASpaceflight.com, January 6, 2022, retrieved January 7, 2022^
  58. Fourth shell of Starlink constellation reaches 1,000 satellites NASASpaceflight.com, July 17, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  59. Repaired SpaceX booster returns to action on Starlink Group 4-23 NASASpaceflight.com, August 27, 2022, retrieved September 25, 2022^
  60. SpaceX launches Starlink 4-2 mission with BlueWalker 3 rideshare NASASpaceflight.com, September 10, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  61. SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink Group 4-31 from Vandenberg NASASpaceflight.com, October 27, 2022, retrieved December 18, 2022^
  62. SpaceX launches second mission from Florida within two days NASASpaceflight.com, December 17, 2022, retrieved January 24, 2023^
  63. SpaceX begins launching Starlink second generation constellation NASASpaceflight.com, December 28, 2022, retrieved December 28, 2022^
  64. SpaceX launches first Starlink mission of 2023 NASASpaceflight.com, January 19, 2023, retrieved January 24, 2023^
  65. Danny Lentz. SpaceX launches initial satellites for Space Development Agency NASASpaceflight.com, April 2, 2023, retrieved April 4, 2023^
  66. SpaceX Manifest Next Spaceflight, May 7, 2021, retrieved May 17, 2021^
  67. NROL-146 Mission Next Spaceflight^
  68. NROL-186 Mission Next Spaceflight^
  69. After SpaceX Starlink Launch, a Fear of Satellites That Outnumber All Visible Stars - Images of the Starlink constellation in orbit have rattled astronomers around the world The New York Times, June 1, 2019, retrieved 1 June 2019^
  70. Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX is building spy satellite network for US intelligence agency, sources say Reuters, March 16, 2023^
  71. First satellites for Musk's Starlink internet venture launched into orbit Reuters, May 23, 2019, retrieved May 24, 2019^
  72. Elon Musk touts launch of "SpaceX Seattle" The Seattle Times, January 16, 2015, retrieved January 19, 2015^
  73. Successful launch continues deployment of SpaceX's Starlink network Spaceflight Now, November 11, 2019, retrieved July 27, 2021^
  74. SpaceX boosts 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit after weather delays Spaceflight Now, January 29, 2020, retrieved March 15, 2020^
  75. SpaceX delivers more Starlink satellites to orbit, booster misses drone ship landing Spaceflight Now, February 17, 2020, retrieved February 18, 2020^
  76. SpaceX modifies Starlink network design Spaceflight Now, April 21, 2020, retrieved April 22, 2020^
  77. SpaceX's Starlink network surpasses 400-satellite mark after successful launch Spaceflight Now, April 22, 2020, retrieved April 28, 2020^
  78. SpaceX to debut satellite-dimming sunshade on Starlink launch next month Spaceflight Now, April 28, 2020, retrieved April 29, 2020^
  79. Hitching a ride with SpaceX, Planet poised to complete SkySat fleet Spaceflight Now, June 12, 2020, retrieved June 13, 2020^
  80. SpaceX rideshare provides new path to orbit for BlackSky Spaceflight Now, June 26, 2020, retrieved June 26, 2020^
  81. SpaceX closes out busy week with launch of more Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now, August 7, 2020, retrieved August 19, 2021^
  82. More Starlinks and SkySats ready for launch Tuesday from Cape Canaveral Spaceflight Now, August 17, 2020, retrieved August 17, 2020^
  83. Live coverage: SpaceX schedules Falcon 9 launch with Starlink satellites Thursday Spaceflight Now, September 3, 2020, retrieved September 3, 2020^
  84. SpaceX breaks cycle of scrubs with successful Falcon 9 launch Spaceflight Now, October 6, 2020, retrieved October 6, 2020^
  85. Live coverage: SpaceX launches more Starlink satellites SpaceFlight Now, October 21, 2020, retrieved October 24, 2020^
  86. Live coverage: SpaceX scrubs Starlink launch attempt Spaceflight Now, November 20, 2020, retrieved November 23, 2020^
  87. SpaceX smashes record with launch of 143 small satellites Spaceflight Now, January 24, 2021, retrieved January 25, 2021^
  88. Launch Schedule Spaceflight Now, February 4, 2021, retrieved February 5, 2021^
  89. SpaceX successfully deploys 60 Starlink satellites, but loses booster on descent Spaceflight Now, February 16, 2021, retrieved February 17, 2021^
  90. SpaceX sticks 75th Falcon rocket landing after launching 60 more Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now, March 4, 2021, retrieved March 4, 2021^
  91. SpaceX adds more satellites to Starlink internet fleet Spaceflight Now, March 11, 2021, retrieved March 12, 2021^
  92. SpaceX extends its own rocket reuse record on Starlink launch Spaceflight Now, March 14, 2021, retrieved March 14, 2021^
  93. SpaceX launches 25th mission for Starlink internet network Spaceflight Now, March 24, 2021, retrieved March 25, 2021^
  94. First phase of SpaceX's Starlink network nears completion with Falcon 9 launch Spaceflight Now, May 26, 2021, retrieved May 26, 2021^
  95. SpaceX rocket hauls 88 small satellites into polar orbit Spaceflight Now, June 30, 2021, retrieved January 20, 2022^
  96. SpaceX launches first full batch of laser-equipped Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now, September 14, 2021, retrieved January 20, 2022^
  97. SpaceX launch starts deployment of new Starlink orbital shell Spaceflight Now, November 13, 2021, retrieved January 20, 2022^
  98. SpaceX launches 2,000th Starlink satellite Spaceflight Now, January 19, 2022, retrieved January 20, 2022^
  99. SpaceX launches third Falcon 9 rocket mission in three days Spaceflight Now, February 3, 2022, retrieved February 20, 2022^
  100. SpaceX adds 46 more satellites to Starlink fleet Spaceflight Now, February 21, 2022, retrieved February 23, 2022^
  101. SpaceX deploys another batch of Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now, February 25, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  102. Live coverage: SpaceX launches 47 more Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now, March 3, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  103. SpaceX "broomstick" launches 40th Starlink mission Spaceflight Now, March 9, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  104. SpaceX stretches rocket reuse record with another Starlink launch Spaceflight Now, March 19, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  105. SpaceX deploys more Starlink satellites, aims for higher launch cadence Spaceflight Now, April 21, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  106. SpaceX launches Falcon 9 booster for second time in three weeks – Spaceflight Now April 29, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  107. More Starlink satellites ride into orbit on predawn launch of Falcon 9 rocket Spaceflight Now, May 6, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  108. SpaceX passes 2,500 satellites launched for Starlink internet network Spaceflight Now, May 13, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  109. SpaceX's first-gen Starlink fleet halfway complete after back-to-back launches Spaceflight Now, May 14, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  110. SpaceX launches third Starlink mission in five days Spaceflight Now, May 18, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  111. SpaceX deploys more Starlink satellites as astronomers renew brightness concerns Spaceflight Now, June 17, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  112. SpaceX rolls out maritime internet service on same day as another Starlink launch Spaceflight Now, July 7, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  113. SpaceX's 50th dedicated Starlink mission begins filling new network layer Spaceflight Now, July 11, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  114. SpaceX launches 32nd mission of the year, breaking record set in 2021 Spaceflight Now, July 22, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  115. SpaceX launches sixth mission in 17 days Spaceflight Now, July 24, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  116. Falcon 9 rocket deploys SpaceX's 3,000th Starlink internet satellite Spaceflight Now, August 10, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  117. SpaceX launches more Starlink satellites in afternoon launch from California Spaceflight Now, August 12, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  118. SpaceX's Starlink fleet gets 53 new satellites with launch from Florida Spaceflight Now, August 19, 2022, retrieved August 28, 2022^
  119. SpaceX closes out quartet of Starlink launches from Vandenberg Spaceflight Now, August 31, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  120. Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites, Boeing rideshare payload Spaceflight Now, September 4, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  121. SpaceX successfully launches Starlink mission on sixth try Spaceflight Now, September 18, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  122. SpaceX launches another successful Starlink mission from Florida Spaceflight Now, September 24, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022^
  123. Starlink mission marks SpaceX's second Falcon 9 launch in one day Spaceflight Now, October 5, 2022, retrieved October 21, 2022^
  124. Another batch of Starlink satellites launch from Cape Canaveral Spaceflight Now, October 20, 2022, retrieved October 21, 2022^
  125. SpaceX launches first batch of second-generation Starlink internet satellites Spaceflight Now, February 27, 2023, retrieved March 4, 2023^
  126. Launch Log Spaceflight Now, retrieved August 19, 2021^
  127. Space Launch Delta 45. Congratulations to the Airmen and Guardians of SLD 45 and @SpaceX on the 13th successful #Starlink launch this year. This launch served as the final launch of the first #Starlink shell, which consists of 1,584 satellites, all of which have launched from the Space Coast!^
  128. SpaceX's Shotwell on Falcon 9 inquiry, discounts for reused rockets and Silicon Valley's test-and-fail ethos SpaceNews.com, October 5, 2016, retrieved October 8, 2016^
  129. Contact lost with three Starlink satellites, other 57 healthy SpaceNews.com, July 1, 2019, retrieved July 1, 2019^
  130. SpaceX working on fix for Starlink satellites so they don't disrupt astronomy SpaceNews.com, December 7, 2019, retrieved December 10, 2019^
  131. FCC OKs lower orbit for some Starlink satellites SpaceNews.com, April 26, 2019, retrieved April 28, 2019^
  132. Dozens of Starlink satellites from latest launch to reenter after geomagnetic storm SpaceNews.com, February 9, 2022, retrieved February 9, 2022^
  133. SpaceX's Prototype Internet Satellites Are Up and Running Space.com, February 22, 2018, retrieved May 12, 2019^
  134. Starlink Press Kit SpaceX, May 15, 2019, retrieved May 23, 2019^
  135. SpaceX. Falcon 9 launches 60 Starlink satellites to orbit – targeting up to 6 Starlink launches this year and will accelerate our cadence next year to put ~720 satellites in orbit for continuous coverage of most populated areas on Earth^
  136. Smallsat Rideshare Program www.spacex.com, retrieved September 2, 2019^
  137. Geomagnetic storm and recently deployed Starlink satellites www.spacex.com, February 8, 2022, retrieved February 10, 2022^
  138. SpaceX. We call them 'V2 Mini'. They represent a step forward in Starlink capability^
  139. SpaceX: Official Website www.spacex.com, retrieved February 28, 2023^
  140. #1609 - Elon Musk - The Joe Rogan Experience Spotify, retrieved February 12, 2021^
  141. Starlink Business: Direct to Cell www.starlink.com^
  142. WOWOWOW!!!! A Spectacular view of the SpaceX Starlink satellite train! May 25, 2019, retrieved May 26, 2019^
  143. SpaceX planning four more Falcon 9-launched Starlink missions this year, permits show Teslarati.com, September 1, 2019, retrieved September 3, 2019^
  144. SpaceX says upgraded Starlink satellites have better bandwidth, beams, and more Teslarati.com, November 12, 2019, retrieved January 4, 2020^
  145. Starlink Group 4-5 Everyday Astronaut, January 8, 2022, retrieved January 10, 2022^
  146. SpaceX is about to launch two of its space Internet satellites – the first of nearly 12,000 The Verge, 15 February 2018, retrieved 16 February 2018^
  147. Pre-launch injection orbit parameters for the Starlink GNROL-126 Celestrak, retrieved November 30, 2024^