The Starlink Megaconstellation

A subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink is a satellite internet company that provides broadband internet access in over 100 countries.

As of September 2024, Starlink consists of over 6,000 satellites, representing the majority of active satellites orbiting Earth. SpaceX plans to expand to at least 12,000. Known as a megaconstellation, the satellites form a network around Earth, using lasers to coordinate with one another.

Ukraine has relied on Starlink in its war with Russia, placing SpaceX and Elon Musk at the center of a geopolitical flashpoint.