【地球上空1.4萬顆活躍衛星,三分之二屬於同一家公司】🛰️
地球軌道上的活躍衛星已經超過 1.4 萬顆,其中約 66% 是 SpaceX 的 Starlink。2019 年之前,全世界的總數還不到 2,500 顆。
這不是一路累積上來的存量,而是一個必須持續補充的族群。Starlink 運行在約 550 公里的低軌道,那個高度還有稀薄的大氣,阻力會把衛星慢慢往下拉,設計壽命大約五年。2025 年 12 月到 2026 年 5 月的半年裡,SpaceX 主動讓 260 顆再入大氣層燒毀,另外還有 349 顆已經除役、等待處理。SpaceX 今年還在把整批衛星的高度從 550 公里降到 480 公里,愈低阻力愈大,汰換只會更快。
維持這個規模的前提,是發射成本要低到能夠年年重來一遍。這才是這門生意真正的門檻,也是其他業者難以複製的地方。
資料來源: Coatue、ARK Investment Management、SpaceX (圖片來自 @ConnorJBates_)
More Than 14,000 Active Satellites, Two-Thirds Owned by One Company
There are now over 14,000 active satellites in orbit around Earth, and about 66% of them are SpaceX's Starlink. Before 2019 the worldwide total was under 2,500.
This is not a stock that simply piles up. It is a population that has to be replaced continuously. Starlink flies at roughly 550 kilometres, where thin atmosphere still creates drag that pulls satellites down, and each one is designed to last about five years. In the six months from December 2025 to May 2026, SpaceX deliberately burned up 260 satellites on re-entry, with another 349 retired and awaiting disposal. It is also lowering the whole constellation from 550 to 480 kilometres this year, and lower means more drag and faster turnover.
That makes the constellation conditional on launch costs staying low enough to repeat the exercise every year. This, rather than the satellites themselves, is the real barrier, and it is the part competitors find hardest to copy.
Source: Coatue, ARK Investment Management and SpaceX (Image: @ConnorJBates_)