Latest Developments

SpaceX reached another cadence milestone with the Starlink 17-29 mission, its 44th dedicated Starlink flight of 2026, lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 5 and adding 24 more satellites to a constellation that now numbers 10,374 in orbit — 10,358 of which are actively working. With 11,955 satellites launched to date, the network continues its relentless expansion even as NASA’s lunar ambitions place fresh scrutiny on SpaceX’s Starship program. A rare on-orbit video from a newly deployed Starlink satellite offered a striking reminder of just how rapidly these spacecraft swarm low Earth orbit, generating both public fascination and growing concerns among astronomers tracking congestion in LEO.

Space Safety

The Starlink conjunction risk picture presents a moderate overall threat environment with four MODERATE-risk events concentrated in mid-April 2026, though no HIGH-risk conjunctions are currently flagged. The most concerning event involves STARLINK-33563 approaching COSMOS 2251 DEB on Apr 13, 2026 at 21:44 UTC with a maximum collision probability of 39.73% and minimum range of only 12 meters—warranting close monitoring despite the debris object’s non-operational status. Meanwhile, seven Starlink satellites are predicted to reenter Earth’s atmosphere between May 6-9, 2026, with decay windows ranging from 7 to 48 hours, representing typical end-of-life operations for the constellation.

Detailed Coverage

SpaceX Hits 44th Starlink Launch of 2026 with Vandenberg Night Flight

The Starlink 17-29 mission departed pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 8:59:19 p.m. PDT on May 5, deploying 24 broadband satellites into low Earth orbit. The flight represents a sustained cadence of nearly one dedicated Starlink launch per week in 2026, a pace that has driven the working constellation past 10,358 satellites and cemented Starlink’s dominance of active orbital infrastructure. Ground-based trackers following the deployment will observe the characteristic satellite train dispersing over roughly 72 hours as each spacecraft raises its operational orbit under ion propulsion.

Read the full story: Spaceflight Now

On-Orbit Video Captures Starlink Train Circling Earth — and Reignites Congestion Debate

A newly launched Starlink satellite captured sweeping footage of its sister spacecraft strung in formation against the curvature of Earth, offering a visually arresting look at constellation deployment from the inside. The video, shared widely across social media, illustrates the sheer density of the train phase — a window during which dozens of satellites travel in close proximity before maneuvering to their assigned slots. While the imagery is stunning, satellite tracking communities note that the train phase is precisely when conjunction risk is elevated, with hundreds of objects clustered in similar orbital planes before dispersal. With over 11,955 Starlink satellites launched to date, the visual spectacle is increasingly matched by the complexity of managing deconfliction in real time.

Read the full story: Space.com

Starship and Blue Moon Face Hard Questions as NASA Eyes 2028 Lunar Landing

NASA’s revised target of landing astronauts on the Moon in 2028 under the Artemis program is drawing skepticism from analysts who question whether SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System or Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander will be technically mature and flight-proven in time. Starship, which serves as the agency’s primary lunar descent vehicle, has made significant progress through its integrated flight test program but has yet to demonstrate the orbital propellant transfer capability essential to a crewed lunar mission — a technology that has never been validated in space. Blue Moon presents its own development uncertainties, and with Artemis 2 still the immediate focus, the compressed timeline to 2028 leaves little margin for the extended test campaigns both vehicles require. For SpaceX, the pressure is compounded by simultaneously sustaining Falcon 9’s record Starlink cadence and advancing Starship toward operational readiness.

Read the full story: Space.com

Constellation Status

The Starlink constellation has remained stable since the last check, with no new launches or orbital changes reported. As of May 5, 2026, SpaceX maintains 11,955 total satellites launched, 10,374 currently in orbit, 10,358 of which are operational, and 1,581 that have decayed from orbit.

• Total Launched: 11955
• Total On Orbit: 10374
• Total Working: 10358

Track Starlink satellites in real-time: Track Starlink