SpaceX Launches 500th Starlink Satellite of 2026
SpaceX launched its 500th Starlink satellite for the year 2026 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch continues the rapid expansion of the company's low-Earth-orbit communications constellation. In separate aerospace news, NASA's Artemis II moon rocket was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs, causing a delay to the crewed mission.
- As of early 2026, the Starlink constellation has over 9,600 active satellites in low Earth orbit, providing internet to more than 10 million subscribers across 150 countries. The company's long-term goal is to operate a constellation of nearly 12,000 satellites, with potential expansion to 34,400. - SpaceX is targeting over 200 total launches in 2026, a significant increase from the 170 missions flown in 2025. The majority of these launches are dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites. - Phil Alden, as VP of Starship and Starlink, leads the production engineering and high-volume manufacturing for both key programs at SpaceX. His background includes leadership roles in manufacturing and engineering at BMW and Jaguar Land Rover. - The newer Starlink V2 Mini satellites, which began launching in February 2023, feature argon Hall thrusters for improved thrust and impulse. They also have upgraded antennas and E-band backhaul capabilities, nearly quadrupling the data capacity of earlier versions. - The Artemis II mission, now scheduled for no earlier than April 2026, will be the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The approximately 10-day mission will send four astronauts on a flyby around the Moon. - The Artemis II crew consists of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), and Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist). This mission will make Glover the first person of color and Koch the first woman to fly on a lunar mission. - Following Artemis II, NASA's Artemis III mission, planned for mid-2027, aims to be the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. Future missions plan to establish a permanent base on the Moon to facilitate eventual human missions to Mars. - The delay and rollback of the Artemis II rocket were caused by issues discovered with batteries and a crucial component in the life support system related to ventilation and temperature control.
