Re:SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites – fo...
by delecti on Saturday July 11, 2026 @09:13AM
(#48871795)
More than 2/3 of all active satellites are part of the SpaceX/Starlink constellation, and it's a full 3/4 of those in LEO, which are the biggest contributor to the glints we can see in the night sky.
They're such an enormous part of the problem that it does a disservice to the problem to not metaphorically shine a spotlight on them.
I had trouble finding another source that summed up the data so nicely, but other sources did corroborate these figures: https://satfleetlive.com/blogs/how-many-satellites-in-orbit/
Re:SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites – fo...
by RetpolineDrama on Saturday July 11, 2026 @10:57AM
(#48872626)
>which are the biggest contributor to the glints we can see in the night sky.
>They're such an enormous part of the problem
What an incredible life of privilege you must live to perceive a few glints in the sky as a huge problem.
Re:SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites – fo...
by delecti on Saturday July 11, 2026 @11:35AM
(#48872941)
I didn't say whether I thought it was a huge problem. I just said it was a problem, and identified the largest contributor to that problem.
But really, what point are you trying to make? I don't need to think that satellites glinting in the night sky are the literal worst problem facing humanity for that to be a valid topic of discussion.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/gx04-who-owns-the-most-s...
* Most satellites were private owned, for communications or resource.
* Most government owned satellites have military use, the people that is trying to spy or nuke you or your neighbor.
* A small part is used for science and altruistic activities.