Latest Developments
SpaceX delivered Northrop Grumman’s Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV-1) to geosynchronous transfer orbit atop a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, kicking off a decade-long satellite servicing demonstration built with DARPA and the Naval Research Laboratory. A day later, a second Falcon 9 lofted 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg after a rare last-second launch abort, keeping SpaceX’s 2026 cadence at 85 Falcon 9 flights so far. The constellation now stands at 12,552 satellites launched, with 10,844 on orbit and 10,828 operational. Elsewhere, Elon Musk fired a warning shot at SpaceX short sellers following the company’s public listing under ticker $SPCX.
Space Safety
Current SOCRATES tracking data indicates a HIGH risk conjunction event involving STARLINK-4621 and the SL-18 rocket body (non-operational) scheduled for Jul 9, 2026 23:44 UTC, with a minimum approach distance of 0.011 km and maximum collision probability of 1.0. Beyond this critical event, six additional MODERATE risk conjunctions are monitored across the Starlink constellation through mid-July 2026, primarily involving partially operational satellites. Concurrently, five Starlink satellites are tracked for imminent reentry, with predicted decay windows ranging from 120 to 1,140 minutes, occurring between Jul 21 - 25, 2026.
| Risk | Starlink Sat | Other Object | Status | Min Range (km) | Rel Speed (km/s) | Max Prob | Time of Closest Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIGH | STARLINK-4621 | SL-18 R/B | Non-operational | 0.011 | 14.173 | 1.0 | Jul 9, 23:44 UTC |
| MODERATE | STARLINK-30464 | STARLINK-36196 | Operational | 0.048 | 10.027 | 0.1285 | Jul 4, 22:40 UTC |
| MODERATE | STARLINK-5106 | STARLINK-32760 | Operational | 0.049 | 10.192 | 0.1211 | Jul 11, 06:11 UTC |
| MODERATE | STARLINK-5400 | STARLINK-5781 | Partially Operational | 0.053 | 6.407 | 0.1203 | Jul 7, 15:32 UTC |
| LOW | STARLINK-36967 | LEMUR-2-AFFIE-WAUWIE | Operational | 0.038 | 7.332 | 0.0733 | Jul 8, 04:03 UTC |
| Satellite | NORAD ID | Predicted Decay | Window (min) | Inclination | Lat | Lon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARLINK-2113 | 47392 | Jul 21, 23:20 UTC | 1080 | 53.0° | 40.5° | 177.1° |
| STARLINK-1622 | 46128 | Jul 22, 06:30 UTC | 120 | 53.0° | -2.2° | 228.5° |
| STARLINK-2141 | 47731 | Jul 23, 22:54 UTC | 840 | 53.1° | -51.6° | 256.4° |
| STARLINK-1143 | 45179 | Jul 24, 21:03 UTC | 780 | 53.0° | 24.1° | 259.3° |
| STARLINK-1541 | 46052 | Jul 25, 14:45 UTC | 1140 | 53.1° | -38.0° | 205.1° |
Detailed Coverage
Northrop Grumman’s MRV-1 begins decade-long GEO servicing mission
SpaceX launched the Mission Robotic Vehicle, carrying the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) payload developed with DARPA and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, aboard a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40. The spacecraft’s 10-foot robotic arms are designed to inspect, repair, and relocate aging satellites in geostationary orbit, marking one of the most ambitious commercial servicing missions attempted to date and a significant proof point for in-space logistics.
Read the full story: Spaceflight Now
Satellite repair drone deploys after flawless liftoff
Space.com captured video of the MRV-MEP mission’s ascent, highlighting the spacecraft’s dexterous robotic arms designed for grappling and servicing satellites that were never built for on-orbit repair. The mission represents a trailblazing step for Northrop Grumman’s commercial servicing business and demonstrates growing demand for satellite life-extension technology as GEO assets age.
Read the full story: Space.com
Starlink mission flies a day after rare abort at Vandenberg
A Falcon 9 booster aborted its first liftoff attempt for the Starlink 17-39 mission before successfully launching 24 satellites the following morning from Vandenberg’s pad 4E. The scrub-and-recycle underscores SpaceX’s tight margins for safety even amid a relentless cadence, with booster B1082 recovering on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” after the abbreviated delay.
Read the full story: Space.com
85th Falcon 9 launch of 2026 keeps pace steady
Spaceflight Now’s live coverage confirmed liftoff at 7:49 a.m. PDT, marking SpaceX’s 85th Falcon 9 mission this year. The steady cadence out of both coasts continues to expand Starlink’s broadband footprint while testing turnaround times for California-based launch infrastructure.
Read the full story: Spaceflight Now
Artemis III to beam 4K video home via Starlink lasers
NASA confirmed that Orion spacecraft flying the Artemis III lunar landing mission will carry Starlink laser communications terminals, enabling high-definition video downlinks and faster data transmission from cislunar space. The partnership showcases how Starlink’s optical inter-satellite links, already proven across the constellation, are being adapted for deep-space human spaceflight communications needs.
Read the full story: Space.com
Musk warns SPCX short sellers amid post-IPO volatility
Elon Musk posted a pointed message on X cautioning that firms holding significant short positions in SpaceX face “very low” survival odds over time. The warning arrives as SpaceX shares trade under ticker $SPCX following the company’s public listing, with volatility drawing scrutiny from investors watching the newly public space giant.
Read the full story: Teslarati
SpaceX engineering data to feed Grok’s next AI model
Musk revealed that SpaceX will supply proprietary engineering data to train Grok’s next model, giving xAI access to real-world aerospace datasets unavailable to rival AI developers. The move signals deepening integration between Musk’s companies and raises questions about how flight and manufacturing data could shape future AI-driven engineering tools.
Read the full story: Teslarati
Constellation Status
The Starlink constellation has remained stable since the last check, with no new launches or orbital changes to report. As of July 18, 2026, SpaceX maintains 12,552 total satellites launched, of which 10,844 remain in orbit and 10,828 are actively working, while 1,708 have decayed from their operational altitudes.
- Total Launched: 12552
- Total On Orbit: 10844
- Total Working: 10828
Track Starlink satellites in real-time: Track Starlink
Wondering about the totals? See how many Starlink satellites are in orbit, updated daily.
