Elon Musk has further cemented his dominance in space, with SpaceX now controlling nearly two-thirds of all active satellites following the launch of its 7,000th Starlink satellite. As per data from CelesTrak, a satellite tracking non-profit, Musk’s Starlink constellation now operates over 6,370 satellites, representing about 62% of the world’s operational satellites.
Starlink, designed to offer global high-speed internet coverage, has expanded rapidly, averaging three satellites launched per day since its inception in 2019. The network currently serves more than three million customers across 102 countries, with plans to eventually launch up to 42,000 satellites. However, countries like China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and Syria are excluded due to embargoes and internet restrictions.
Also Read: Elon Musk unveils ‘Colossus’ supercomputer to challenge GPT-4
Starlink’s rapid expansion has raised concerns about the influence Musk holds through his ventures like SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter). Musk himself remarked, “Starlink now constitutes roughly 2/3 of all active Earth satellites,” highlighting the significant control his network wields over global satellite operations.
Despite its successes, Starlink has encountered regulatory challenges. For instance, when Brazil banned X, Starlink initially allowed access but later complied with the restrictions, reflecting the delicate balance the company must maintain in navigating international regulations.
