Earth’s Orbits Becoming More Congested With Satellites, Space Debris: Report

‘With LEO becoming more crowded than ever, there is a real risk to satellites that provide valuable services,’ Slingshot Aerospace’s Melissa Quinn said.

People watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 second-generation Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Cocoa Beach, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2023. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Earth’s orbital space is becoming more congested after nearly 3,000 satellites were deployed last year, according to a new report from space technology firm Slingshot Aerospace.

A total of 2,877 satellites were deployed in 2023, up by 14.6 percent from the previous year, bringing the total number of active and inactive satellites in orbit to 12,597 as of the end of last year, according to the report. Of these, 3,356 are inactive satellites, and 5,648 of the 9,241 active satellites belong to Elon Musk’s Starlink.