Elon Musk to launch 1 million satellites

[DonTom]

I'm not a starlink SME but pretty sure the flat antennas you set out are electronically steerable arrays

A search or two on my Brave Browser will make anybody a SME ( Subject Matter Expert). I even had to look "SME" up.

And your guess is correct (for all of the Starlink antennas):

Yes, the Starlink Mini utilizes an electronically steered phased-array antenna to track and maintain connectivity with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites as they move overhead. Unlike traditional fixed dishes, this technology allows the device to form a focused radio beam and steer it across the sky via digital beamforming without requiring internal mechanical movement for fine tracking.

While the antenna itself steers electronically, the Mini requires manual positioning by the user to align the unit with the optimal skyward angle. The Starlink app guides users to rotate the unit and unfold the integrated kickstand to ensure the "cone of reception" is correctly oriented, as the phased array cannot physically pivot the entire dish on its own.

• Antenna Type: Electronically steered phased-array with ~1,280 radiating elements (in current versions).
• Steering Mechanism: Digital beamformers shift signal phases to track satellites at microsecond timescales.
• Physical Alignment: Requires manual rotation by the user to position the device within the 100-degree field of view.
• Frequency: Operates in the Ku-band (10.7–12.7 GHz downlink, 14.0–14.5 GHz uplink).

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Lou Schneider]

I'm not a starlink SME but pretty sure the flat antennas you set out are electronically steerable arrays. At 11GHz that probably represents a decent patch array with a bit of gain. Oriented towards the more dense area of the constellation it can iteratively home in and track LEO's as they move. So within practical limits of orienting it where it can't steer to compensate, it can accomodate nominal errors in placement.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Right. The northward orientation of the Starlink terminal is to protect the satellites in geosynchronous orbit from interference as the beam from the terminal is searching for one of their own to latch onto. Not because the Starlink satellites are concentrated to the north - actually their orbits are pretty uniformly spaced across the continental US.

 

[DonTom]

That's the router I used for the first year and it worked great

I just now received my new router and I am now playing around with it. I just connected it up as a wireless repeater for now to see it work. I am now connected to it with no cables other than the power to the USB to run it.

It sure is a cute little thingy. Now to find a real use for it.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[NY_Dutch]

I'm not a starlink SME but pretty sure the flat antennas you set out are electronically steerable arrays. At 11GHz that probably represents a decent patch array with a bit of gain. Oriented towards the more dense area of the constellation it can iteratively home in and track LEO's as they move. So within practical limits of orienting it where it can't steer to compensate, it can accomodate nominal errors in placement.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

I've been experimenting with my Mini in some fairly heavily treed areas of my yard. I found that ignoring the app alignment guide, and simply aiming the antenna at the largest available open sky in any direction, invariably gets me usable service. Of course the smaller the open area, the more minor dropouts. I think if I'm in the middle of a remote forest, a few several second dropouts from time to time will still beat no service at all. Bottom line, the Starlink antennas seem to be very forgiving of less than perfect alignment.

 

[UTTransplant]

Bottom line, the Starlink antennas seem to be very forgiving of less than perfect alignment.

We don’t even try to aim ours at all anymore, just a straight up horizontal. My antenna engineers called it “bathtub mode” because that’s the way the big satcom antennas they worked on were stored when not in active use. We had a small drop in speed when we started doing it, but it makes life so much easier we have continued.

 

[RayIN]

Right. The northward orientation of the Starlink terminal is to protect the satellites in geosynchronous orbit from interference as the beam from the terminal is searching for one of their own to latch onto. Not because the Starlink satellites are concentrated to the north - actually their orbits are pretty uniformly spaced across the continental US.

I wonder if the NASA design engineers figure in "fender-benders" when calculating skin strength?

 

[NY_Dutch]

I wonder if the NASA design engineers figure in "fender-benders" when calculating skin strength?

Most modern satellites, including Starlink, use collision avoidance software that gets information from a ground based tracking service. Some automatically reroute, while others notify ground controllers for manual intervention. Keep in mind that space is a huge place to be flying around in. The Starlink sats for instance, are 75 to 250 miles apart depending on the generation. The Dish sats at 110 deg and 119 deg are about 4,100 miles apart.

 

[Wasillaguy]

Also, most geosynchronous telecom sats are now using spread spectrum which pretty much eliminates the possibility of interference from someone's Starlink. You need some power and a single carrier signal to step on a transponder.
There are still some SCPC (Single channel per carrier) signals up there, mostly private and government systems with low bandwidth needs.

 

[RayIN]

Most modern satellites, including Starlink, use collision avoidance software that gets information from a ground based tracking service. Some automatically reroute, while others notify ground controllers for manual intervention. Keep in mind that space is a huge place to be flying around in. The Starlink sats for instance, are 75 to 250 miles apart depending on the generation. The Dish sats at 110 deg and 119 deg are about 4,100 miles apart.

So, 1 million Starlink satellites can be steered at exactly the right time. Learned something new today.

The size and scale of the Starlink project concerns astronomers, who fear that the bright, orbiting objects will interfere with observations of the universe, as well as spaceflight safety experts who now see Starlink as the number one source of collision hazard in Earth's orbit. In addition to that, some scientists worry that the amount of metal that will be burning up in Earth's atmosphere as old satellites are deorbited could trigger unpredictable changes to the planet's climate.
source: Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy

added:

Active Satellite Statistics (Top Highlights)​

• ~14,200 satellites are still functioning (ESA space-environment statistics, last update 16 January 2026).
• ~16,910 satellites are still in space (defunct + functioning), out of ~25,170 satellites placed into Earth orbit since 1957.
• That implies roughly 83.97% of satellites still in space are functioning (14,200 out of 16,910).
• Space surveillance catalogues track ~44,892 objects in Earth orbit (many tracked objects are rocket bodies and debris, not operational spacecraft).
• In ESA’s catalogued object table, payloads = 16,925 out of 44,892 catalogued objects (about 37.70%).
• source: Active Satellite Statistics (2026) - Sentinel Mission

 

[NY_Dutch]

So, 1 million Starlink satellites can be steered at exactly the right time. Learned something new today.

That's certainly the idea. How well it scales up to a million sats remains to be seen.

 

[RayIN]

That's certainly the idea. How well it scales up to a million sats remains to be seen.

I added some statistics to my post. Starlink will increase the present 44,892 objects orbiting earth my 1 million.

 

[DutchmenSport]

I was watching one of those YouTube videos about the Mandela Effect. One item that has changed (from the way some people remember) is the Earth's position in the Milky Way Galaxy. I don't know about that, but I can see someday, someone will say .... IT'S ANOTHER MANDELA Affect .... where did those 1 million extra stars come from?

 

[jymbee]

The size and scale of the Starlink project concerns astronomers, who fear that the bright, orbiting objects will interfere with observations of the universe, as well as spaceflight safety experts who now see Starlink as the number one source of collision hazard in Earth's orbit. In addition to that, some scientists worry that the amount of metal that will be burning up in Earth's atmosphere as old satellites are deorbited could trigger unpredictable changes to the planet's climate.

Yeah, but you have to keep things in perspective. I mean... what's more important, saving the Earth from the existential and growing threat to our very existence, to TikTok addicts being able to quickly post their latest meme creations??

 

[NY_Dutch]

So, 1 million Starlink satellites can be steered at exactly the right time. Learned something new today.

The size and scale of the Starlink project concerns astronomers, who fear that the bright, orbiting objects will interfere with observations of the universe, as well as spaceflight safety experts who now see Starlink as the number one source of collision hazard in Earth's orbit. In addition to that, some scientists worry that the amount of metal that will be burning up in Earth's atmosphere as old satellites are deorbited could trigger unpredictable changes to the planet's climate.
source: Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy

added:

Active Satellite Statistics (Top Highlights)​

• ~14,200 satellites are still functioning (ESA space-environment statistics, last update 16 January 2026).
• ~16,910 satellites are still in space (defunct + functioning), out of ~25,170 satellites placed into Earth orbit since 1957.
• That implies roughly 83.97% of satellites still in space are functioning (14,200 out of 16,910).
• Space surveillance catalogues track ~44,892 objects in Earth orbit (many tracked objects are rocket bodies and debris, not operational spacecraft).
• In ESA’s catalogued object table, payloads = 16,925 out of 44,892 catalogued objects (about 37.70%).
• source: Active Satellite Statistics (2026) - Sentinel Mission

Since early on in the Starlink program, the sats have been covered with non-reflective coating to minimize problems for astronomers. When that began, the complaints dropped off pretty drastically.

 

[RayIN]

Since early on in the Starlink program, the sats have been covered with non-reflective coating to minimize problems for astronomers. When that began, the complaints dropped off pretty drastically.

My point is all the space junk and working satellites not skywatching, although that is important. That article lends no credence to steerable Skylink satellites.

 

[NY_Dutch]

My point is all the space junk and working satellites not skywatching, although that is important. That article lends no credence to steerable Skylink satellites.

​

SpaceX Starlink satellites made 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in the past 6 months. What does that mean for space safety?​

Starlink satellites now maneuver 275 times per day to avoid space objects.

SpaceX Starlink satellites made 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in the past 6 months. What does that mean for space safety?

Starlink satellites now maneuver 275 times per day to avoid space objects.

www.space.com

 

[Wasillaguy]

How much fuel do they have aboard these craft? Firing thrusters this often would use it up pretty quick, no?
I know GPS sats have electromagnets mounted in all 3 axis, but that only allows changes in orientation. Altering flight path requires fuel.

 

[Wasillaguy]

In satcom with geosynchronous sats, we used to have "peak parties" where all the techs got called in at a specific time to adjust the earth station dishes in azimuth/elevation for a given satellite. The reason it's done at a specific time is that geosynchronous sats move around slightly in a figure 8 pattern as viewed from the ground. Peaking is done when the sat is in the center of that pattern.
Once a sat is in it's position, thrusters are only used occasionally to keep the figure 8 path as small as possible or to fine tune it's position relative to the other geosynchronous birds.
They may be 4100 miles apart, but that's only 2 degrees dish movement (used to be 3 but they packed em closer).
To help ground stations reject neighboring signal, they've arranged the transponders such that one bird will have odd # transponders in horizontal polarization, even # in vertical. The next bird over is opposite (odd is vertical, even is horizontal).
This provides at least 30dB of rejection for a good quality antenna.

 

[Chef Duane]

The satellites use electrically powered Ion Hall thrusters, which are highly efficient and ideal for long-term station-keeping in low Earth orbit. While traditionally using Krypton, SpaceX has transitioned to using Argon as the reaction mass for these thrusters. Rather than relying solely on manual commands from the ground, Starlink satellites autonomously avoid space debris and other satellites using GPS and tracking data, a system designed to handle thousands of potential collision events. Typical lifespan in orbit is about 5-7 years. After that, they’re intentionally deorbited so they burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.

 

[OldWEB]

At least the Starlink sats completely burn up when they reach the atmosphere, so no debris left behind or reaching Earth.