Latest Developments
SpaceX executed back-to-back Starlink launches from opposite US coasts on March 13 and 14, 2026, demonstrating the relentless operational cadence sustaining the world’s largest satellite internet constellation. Falcon 9 boosters lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida within a 48-hour window, adding fresh capacity to a network that now counts 11,542 satellites launched, 9,996 in orbit, and 9,986 actively working. The dual-coast tempo underscores SpaceX’s ability to sustain simultaneous launch campaigns across geographically separated pads, a logistical feat that continues to compress the timeline between individual missions.
Space Safety
Current SOCRATES tracking data indicates 10 active conjunction events involving Starlink satellites through late March 2026, with one HIGH risk event requiring immediate attention. The conjunction between STARLINK-6198 and TIANPING 2A on Mar 20, 09:59 UTC presents the most significant collision hazard, with a minimum approach distance of just 0.001 km and maximum probability of 1.0—representing a virtually certain conjunction geometry that demands conjunction assessment and potential maneuver evaluation. Beyond this critical event, two MODERATE risk conjunctions are tracked, while six additional LOW risk events remain under monitoring; concurrently, TIP reentry predictions show 6 Starlink satellites in final decay phases, with expected atmospheric reentry between Mar 15–17, 2026.
| Risk | Starlink Sat | Other Object | Status | Min Range (km) | Rel Speed (km/s) | Max Prob | Time of Closest Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIGH | STARLINK-6198 | TIANPING 2A | Operational | 0.001 | 15.06 | 1.0000 | Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:59 UTC |
| MODERATE | STARLINK-1828 | STARLINK-36384 | Partially Op. | 0.039 | 6.96 | 0.1951 | Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:08 UTC |
| MODERATE | STARLINK-35706 | OBJECT B | Operational | 0.024 | 13.49 | 0.1176 | Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:26 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-1222 | STARLINK-1304 | Partially Op. | 0.063 | 12.17 | 0.0680 | Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:01 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-32004 | OBJECT F | Operational | 0.040 | 6.35 | 0.0678 | Sun, 15 Mar 2026 06:36 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-35048 | JILIN-01 KUANFU 02B 3 | Operational | 0.042 | 4.75 | 0.0660 | Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:54 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-30596 | TEVEL2-6 | Operational | 0.030 | 14.70 | 0.0614 | Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:43 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-32494 | LEO EXPRESS 1 | Operational | 0.043 | 7.92 | 0.0578 | Sat, 21 Mar 2026 02:54 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-1964 | STARLINK-11356 | Partially Op. | 0.082 | 3.48 | 0.0578 | Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-31464 | GEOSCAN 5 (RS92S5) | Operational | 0.035 | 13.60 | 0.0556 | Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:26 UTC |
| Satellite | NORAD ID | Predicted Decay | Window (min) | Inclination | Lat | Lon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARLINK-3855 | 52474 | Mar 15, 08:39 UTC | 1440 | 53.2° | 44° | 112.5° |
| STARLINK-3050 | 49180 | Mar 15, 10:58 UTC | 2880 | 70° | -11° | 94.1° |
| STARLINK-30995 | 58474 | Mar 16, 06:06 UTC | 1440 | 43° | 2.5° | 276.7° |
| STARLINK-3767 | 52376 | Mar 16, 12:04 UTC | 1440 | 53.2° | -46.8° | 89.2° |
| STARLINK-1712 | 46581 | Mar 16, 20:42 UTC | 1440 | 53° | 47.9° | 334.6° |
| STARLINK-1587 | 46157 | Mar 17, 03:18 UTC | 1440 | 53° | -48.6° | 193.8° |
Detailed Coverage
Dual-Coast Sprint: Falcon 9 Fires from Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral Within 48 Hours
On March 13, 2026, a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink Group 17-31 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard booster B1071, with the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) standing by downrange in the Pacific for recovery. Less than 24 hours later, on March 14, a second Falcon 9 hauling Starlink Group 10-48 launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with booster B1095 targeting a landing aboard Just Read the Instructions (JRTI) in the Atlantic. The rapid sequential launches reflect SpaceX’s maturing two-pad operational model, in which West Coast slots serve high-inclination and polar orbital shells while East Coast pads feed mid-inclination planes that provide broader coverage across densely populated latitudes.
The missions collectively represent another incremental push toward a constellation ceiling that, at nearly 10,000 working satellites, is already reshaping the orbital environment tracked by tools like KeepTrack. Each new shell addition improves redundancy and ground throughput while simultaneously raising the complexity of conjunction analysis for operators worldwide. Tracking the precise insertion orbits of both groups will be essential in the days following deployment as the satellites begin their electric propulsion climbs to operational altitude.
Read the full story: Space.com
Constellation Status
The Starlink constellation remained stable since the last check, with no new launches or orbital changes. The constellation currently consists of 11,542 total satellites launched, 9,996 in orbit, 9,986 operational, and 1,546 decayed.
- Total Launched: 11542
- Total On Orbit: 9996
- Total Working: 9986
Track Starlink satellites in real-time: Track Starlink
