The number of spacecraft orbiting the Earth is rapidly increasing thanks to the development of private satellite “mega constellations”. (Image credit: Shutterstock)
The number of satellites orbiting Earth has more than doubled in the past five years and is likely to double again in the next five years, thanks to the efforts of private companies like SpaceX. However, while these spacecraft can bring significant benefits, they also pose a number of challenges that scientists are only now beginning to grapple with.
So how many satellites can we expect to see in our skies in the coming decades? And – more importantly – how many satellites would be considered redundant?
As of May 2025, there are about 11,700 active satellites orbiting the Earth, including military spycraft and scientific probes, as well as rapidly growing private satellite networks. However, the pace of launching spacecraft into the atmosphere increases every year.
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