Starlink, a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX's subsidiary Starlink Services, LLC, began launching in 2019 and now provides coverage to around 150 countries. As of May 2025, the constellation comprises over 7,600 small satellites in low Earth orbit, making up 65% of all active satellites, and aims to provide global mobile broadband, having reached 4 million subscribers by September 2024. While the project involved an initial estimated cost of over $10 billion, Starlink's 2024 revenue reached $2.7 billion, securing a $72 million profit, despite falling short of earlier predictions.
Beyond commercial use, Starlink has played a critical role in the Russo-Ukrainian War, contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense, and a military version called Starshield is being developed for government use. The system is also considered a front-runner for the U.S. Golden Dome missile defense system. However, the constellation faces concerns from astronomers about its impact on ground-based observation and orbital congestion, which SpaceX addresses through measures to reduce satellite brightness and advanced autonomous collision avoidance technology.