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How many satellites does the United States have?

As of October 17, 2026, the United States owns 13,118 active satellites, 76.7% of the world's 17,101 and more than any other country. The biggest single group is Starlink, with 11,137 satellites (85% of the total).

13,118

Active satellites

76.7%

Of the world total

1st

Rank among countries

181

Launches in 2025

Space Shuttle Atlantis lifting off from a launch pad in a cloud of white smoke — Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on June 27, 1995, the 100th US human spaceflight launch. Photo: NASA.

What they do

Communications accounts for 12,031 of the United States's active satellites (92%).

Communications12,031 (91.7%)
Earth imaging495 (3.8%)
Technology demonstration163 (1.2%)
Signals intelligence51 (0.4%)
COM/MET49 (0.4%)
Navigation45 (0.3%)

Where they orbit

Lower low Earth orbit (80 to 600 km)12,342 (94.1%)
Upper low Earth orbit (600 to 2,000 km)368 (2.8%)
Geosynchronous orbit198 (1.5%)
Not assigned108 (0.8%)
Medium Earth orbit49 (0.4%)

Who operates them

The largest operators, and the largest families of satellites, owned by the United States. US military satellites carry the name USA followed by a number.

By operator

SpaceX/Seattle11,137 (84.9%)
Kuiper Systems392 (3.0%)
NRO290 (2.2%)
USSF SSC132 (1.0%)
Planet129 (1.0%)
SDA111 (0.8%)

By satellite family

Starlink11,137 (84.9%)
USA451 (3.4%)
Kuiper392 (3.0%)
Flock118 (0.9%)
Iridium80 (0.6%)

Operator names are as written in GCAT, usually transliterated from the original language. Families group satellites by the first word of their name.

How the fleet has grown

At the end of 2005, the United States had 1,039 payloads in Earth orbit. By the end of 2025 it had 11,798.

Payloads owned by the United States in Earth orbit at the end of each year, working or not.

Launches

The United States has made 2,483 orbital launch attempts since its first in 1957, and 181 of them in 2025. Its busiest year was 2025 with 181.

Orbital launch attempts by the United States each year. 2026 is partial, through October 16.

Sources and method

GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0. Updated October 17, 2026. Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat).
Active means GCAT lists the satellite as working or possibly still transmitting, a status GCAT says is often a guess. Ownership is by the owner's country, not the launch country.