SpaceX is on pace to break its own record for Starlink satellite deployments in 2026, having launched 1,589 satellites in the first half compared to 1,489 in the same period last year.
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<img alt="" data-caption="Another 29 Starlink satellites were deployed last night. | Image: <a href="https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2075176864558006425?s=20">SpaceX</a>" data-portal-copyright="Image: <a href="https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2075176864558006425?s=20">SpaceX</a>" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/HMyCU5QWIAAQUoo.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
Another 29 Starlink satellites were deployed last night. | Image: <a href="https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2075176864558006425?s=20">SpaceX</a> </figcaption>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">SpaceX is currently ahead of last year's record-setting pace for Starlink satellite deployments. SpaceX launched 1,589 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit in the first half of 2026, according to launch data compiled by <a href="https://planet4589.org/space/con/star/log.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://planet4589.org/space/con/star/log.html">Jonathan McDowell's satellite tracker</a>, compared to 1,489 satellites deployed at the same point in 2025.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">2025 was already a record year for SpaceX, with the company deploying 3,180 Starlink satellites in total. SpaceX has launched over 12,400 Starlink satellites since the constellation's inception, with nearly 11,000 still functioning.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To put these numbers into perspective, Amazon's fledgling Leo service has only deploye …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/963196/spacex-is-on-track-for-record-setting-starlink-deployments">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# SpaceX is on track for record-setting Starlink deployments
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/news/963196/spacex-is-on-track-for-record-setting-starlink-deployments](https://www.theverge.com/news/963196/spacex-is-on-track-for-record-setting-starlink-deployments)
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Thomas Ricker
is a deputy editor and Verge co\-founder with a passion for human\-centric cities, e\-bikes, and life as a digital nomad\. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years\.
SpaceX is currently ahead of last year’s record\-setting pace for Starlink satellite deployments\. SpaceX launched 1,589 Starlink satellites into low\-Earth orbit in the first half of 2026, according to launch data compiled by[Jonathan McDowell’s satellite tracker](https://planet4589.org/space/con/star/log.html), compared to 1,489 satellites deployed at the same point in 2025\.
2025 was already a record year for SpaceX, with the company deploying 3,180 Starlink satellites in total\. SpaceX has launched over 12,400 Starlink satellites since the constellation’s inception, with nearly 11,000 still functioning\.
To put these numbers into perspective, Amazon’s fledgling Leo service has only deployed about 400 satellites over the last[15 months](https://www.theverge.com/news/657689/amazon-project-kuiper-satellite-launch), en route to a total planned constellation of 3,232 satellites\. In other words, SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket is capable of deploying one Leo\-sized space internet constellation every year\.
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- Thomas Ricker
Amazon announces it has deployed enough satellites (396) to begin initial service for its Starlink competitor, Amazon Leo, targeting commercial availability by mid-2026, though early performance may be limited like SpaceX's initial beta.
SpaceX plans to launch a retail Starlink mobile service in the US, aiming to compete with terrestrial mobile networks, according to its bond offering prospectus. The move follows a $17 billion acquisition of EchoStar's spectrum licenses.