Latest Developments

Elon Musk has moved to structurally entrench his leadership at SpaceX, publicly confirming plans that would make him effectively unfireable while tying an unprecedented compensation package to the company’s Mars colonization goals — a development with significant implications for the long-term trajectory of the Starlink constellation, which now stands at 11,979 satellites launched, 10,370 in orbit, and 10,354 operationally active. Meanwhile, on the competitive front, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have thrown their weight behind a proposed telco-led direct-to-device (D2D) joint venture, positioning themselves against Starlink Mobile in what is shaping up to be a defining battle for satellite-to-smartphone connectivity. The dual developments underscore how SpaceX’s dominance in low Earth orbit is increasingly drawing both internal consolidation moves and coordinated external resistance. Together, these stories signal a pivotal moment for SpaceX as both a corporate entity and a global infrastructure provider.

Space Safety

The current Starlink conjunction risk picture shows four MODERATE-risk events concentrated in mid-April 2026, with no HIGH-risk conjunctions currently identified. The most significant threat involves STARLINK-33563 approaching defunct COSMOS 2251 debris on Apr 13, 2026 with a 39.7% collision probability at just 12 meters minimum range. Meanwhile, the reentry prediction model tracks three Starlink satellites with imminent decay events between May 17-19, 2026, with STARLINK-5369 presenting the largest uncertainty window of 48 hours over the Pacific region.

Detailed Coverage

Musk Moves to Make Himself Unfireable at SpaceX, Ties Role to Mars Colony Mission

In a striking governance play, Elon Musk has publicly confirmed that he is structurally shielding his leadership position at SpaceX, making it effectively impossible for the company’s board to remove him. Posting on X, Musk framed the move as essential to preserving SpaceX’s long-term mission of establishing a self-sustaining human colony on Mars — a goal he argues requires continuity of vision that no conventional corporate structure can guarantee.

The compensation package reportedly tied to this arrangement is described as potentially worth over a trillion dollars, pegged to SpaceX achieving its most ambitious milestones. For satellite watchers, the stakes are enormous: Starlink is SpaceX’s primary revenue engine, and Musk’s unassailable grip on the company means the constellation’s expansion cadence, pricing strategy, and military partnerships will continue to reflect a single, unchecked strategic vision. With over 10,354 satellites currently working on orbit, the downstream effects of this governance structure touch everything from FCC licensing negotiations to spectrum policy worldwide.

Read the full story: Teslarati

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Unite Behind Telco-Led D2D Joint Venture to Counter Starlink Mobile

The three largest U.S. wireless carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon — have formally backed a proposed direct-to-device joint venture that would allow ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites without SpaceX involvement, according to SpaceNews reporting from Tampa. The move represents the most coordinated terrestrial telecom pushback yet against Starlink Mobile, which has been aggressively expanding its partnerships with carriers globally.

The proposed joint venture is designed to give the telcos direct control over the satellite layer rather than ceding that ground to SpaceX and its growing fleet of D2D-capable Starlink V2 Mini satellites. However, the initiative has reportedly divided the broader satellite operator community, with some companies backing the consortium and others wary of being squeezed out of the emerging D2D market entirely. For tracking purposes, the competitive pressure on SpaceX in the D2D segment is notable — Starlink’s ability to field satellites at scale remains unmatched, but a unified carrier front backed by regulatory lobbying could reshape the licensing environment in which those 10,370 in-orbit satellites operate.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Constellation Status

There have been no changes to the Starlink constellation since the last check. The constellation currently consists of 11,979 total launched satellites, with 10,370 in orbit, 10,354 functioning operationally, and 1,609 decayed satellites.

• Total Launched: 11979
• Total On Orbit: 10370
• Total Working: 10354

Track Starlink satellites in real-time: Track Starlink