SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY

Starlink is the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.

Leveraging advanced satellites and user hardware coupled with our deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world.

REGULAR ACCESS TO SPACE

As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is the only satellite operator with the ability to launch its own satellites as needed. With frequent, low-cost launches, Starlink satellites are constantly updated with the newest technology.

SPACE SUSTAINABILITY

For information on enabling effective, open conjunction coordination, visit our satellite operator page

To download the latest Starlink satellite ephemerides, or submit ephemeris for your own satellite for rapid conjunction screening, refer to the conjunction screening system documentation.

Less Mass, More Compact
Each satellite features a compact, flat-panel design that minimizes volume, allowing for a dense launch stack to take full advantage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket’s launch capabilities.
Star Tracker
Starlink’s custom-built navigation sensors survey the stars to determine each satellite’s location, altitude, and orientation, enabling precise placement of broadband throughput.
Optical Space Lasers
Each Starlink satellite contains 3 space lasers (Optical Intersatellite Links or ISLs) operating at up to 200 Gbps, which together across the constellation form a global internet mesh that can connect customers anywhere in the world.
Antennas
Each Starlink satellite uses 5 advanced Ku-band phased array antennas and 3 dual-band (Ka-band and E-band) antennas to provide high-bandwidth connectivity to Starlink customers.
Ion Propulsion Systems
Efficient argon thrusters enable Starlink satellites to orbit raise, maneuver in space, and deorbit at the end of their useful life. Starlink is the first argon propelled spacecraft ever flown in space.
Power System
Starlink satellites feature a dual solar array and high capacity battery to provide power to the payloads. The two solar arrays are also aero-neutral which enable faster on-orbit maneuvers.
Reaction Wheels
Four reaction wheels provide agile attitude control for the vehicle. The hot-spare configuration ensures high reliability operation and its aluminum flywheel is fully demisable at end-of-life.

How Starlink Works

Most satellite internet services come from single geostationary satellites that orbit the planet at 35,786 km. As a result, the round trip data time between the user and satellite—also known as latency—is high, making it nearly impossible to support streaming, online gaming, video calls or other high data rate activities.

Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that orbit the planet much closer to Earth, at about 550km, and cover the entire globe. Because Starlink satellites are in a low orbit, latency is significantly lower—around 25 ms vs 600+ ms.