Editing Satellite constellation (section)

=== Communications satellite constellations ===
{{See also|Satellite communication|Category:Communications satellite constellations}}

==== Broadcasting ====

*[[Sirius Satellite Radio]]
*[[XM Satellite Radio]]
*[[SES (company)|SES]]
*[[Othernet]]
*[[Molniya (satellite)|Molniya]] (discontinued)

==== Monitoring ====

*[[Spire Global|Spire]] (AIS, ADS-B)
*[[Iridium satellite constellation|Iridium]] (AIS, ADS-B, IoT)
*[[Myriota]] (IoT)
*[[Swarm Technologies]] (IoT)
*[[Astrocast]] (IoT)
*[[TDRSS]]

==== Internet access ====
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+ Operational communications satellite constellations
! Name
! Operator
! Constellation design
! Coverage
! Freq.
! Services
|-
|Broadband Global Area Network|Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN)
|[[Inmarsat]] 
|3 geostationary satellites
|82°S to 82°N
|
|Internet access
|-
|Global Xpress (GX)
|[[Inmarsat]] 
|5 Geostationary satellites<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inmarsat.com/en/solutions-services/enterprise/services/land-xpress.html |access-date=1 November 2021|title=Land Xpress }}</ref>
|
|[[Ka band|K<sub>a</sub> band]]
|Internet access
|-
|[[Globalstar]]
|[[Globalstar]]
|48 at 1400&nbsp;km, 52° (8 planes)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.n2yo.com/satellites/?c=17|title=Globalstar satellites|website=www.n2yo.com|access-date=2019-11-22}}</ref>
|70°S to 70°N<ref name=":0" />
|
|Internet access, satellite telephony
|-
|[[Iridium satellite constellation|Iridium]]
|[[Iridium Communications]]
|66 at 780&nbsp;km, 86.4° (6 planes)
|Global
| {{ubl
 | [[L band]] 
 | K<sub>a</sub> band 
 }}
|Internet access, satellite telephony
|-
|[[O3b]]
|[[SES (company)|SES]]
|20 at 8,062&nbsp;km, 0° (circular equatorial orbit)
|45°S to 45°N
|K<sub>a</sub> band
|Internet access
|-
| [[O3b mPOWER]]
| [[SES (company)|SES]]
|8,062&nbsp;km, 0° (circular equatorial orbit)<br>6 operational, 2 being commissioned ({{asof|2025|04|lc=y}}), 5 more to be launched by end 2026
|45°S to 45°N
| [[Ka band|K<sub>a</sub>]] (26.5–40&nbsp;GHz)
|Internet access
|-
|[[Orbcomm (satellite)|Orbcomm]]
|[[Orbcomm|ORBCOMM]]
|17 at 750&nbsp;km, 52° (OG2)
|65°S to 65°N
|
|[[IoT]] and [[Machine to machine|M2M]], [[Automatic identification system|AIS]]
|-
|[[Defense Satellite Communications System|Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS)]] 
|[[4th Space Operations Squadron]]
|
|
|
|Military communications
|-
|[[Wideband Global SATCOM|Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)]]
|[[4th Space Operations Squadron]]
|10 geostationary satellites
|
|
|Military communications
|-
|[[ViaSat]]
|[[Viasat, Inc.]]
|4 geostationary satellites
|Varying
|
|Internet access
|-
|[[Eutelsat]]
|[[Eutelsat]]
|20 geostationary satellites
|
|
|Commercial
|-
|[[Thuraya]]
|[[Thuraya]]
|2 geostationary satellites
|[[Europe, the Middle East and Africa|EMEA]] and Asia
| L band
|Internet access, satellite telephony
|-
|[[Starlink]]
|[[SpaceX]]
| LEO in several orbital shells{{ubl
 | ~5000 satellites at 550 km (Oct 2023)
 | 12000 satellites at ~350–550 km (planned)
 }}
| {{ubl
 | 44°S to 52°N (Feb 2021)
 | Global
 }}
| {{ubl
 | [[Ku band|K<sub>u</sub>]] (12–18&nbsp;GHz)
 | [[Ka band|K<sub>a</sub>]] (26.5–40&nbsp;GHz)
 }}
| Internet access<ref>{{cite web|title=This is how Elon Musk plans to use SpaceX to give internet to everyone|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/how-spacex-brings-starlink-broadband-satellite-internet-to-low-earth-orbit/|website=CNET|language=en|date=21 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2018/02/spacex-set-launch-2-starlink-satellites-test-gigabit-broadband.html |title=SpaceX Set to Launch 2 Starlink Satellites to Test Gigabit Broadband |publisher=[[ISPreview]] |date=14 February 2018 |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-09|title=SpaceX's Satellite Internet Service Latency Comes in Under 20 Milliseconds|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/switches/128545/spacexs-satellite-internet-service-latency-comes-in-under-20-milliseconds|access-date=2020-10-23|website=PCMag UK|language=en-gb}}</ref>
|-
|[[OneWeb]] constellation
|[[Eutelsat]] (completed merger in Sep 2023)
|882–1980<ref>{{cite magazine |date=2018-03-20 |title=OneWeb asks FCC to authorize 1,200 more satellites |url=https://spacenews.com/oneweb-asks-fcc-to-authorize-1200-more-satellites/ |magazine=SpaceNews |access-date=2018-03-23}}</ref>(planned)
Total number of operational satellites: 634 as of 20 May 2023
|Global
|{{ubl
 | [[Ku band|K<sub>u</sub>]] (12–18&nbsp;GHz)
 | [[Ka band|K<sub>a</sub>]] (26.5–40&nbsp;GHz)
 }}
|Internet access
|}

Other Internet access systems are proposed or currently being developed:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Proposed [[Satellite internet constellation|internet satellite constellations]]<ref name="AvWeek19dec2017">{{cite news|url=http://aviationweek.com/space/eight-satellite-constellations-promising-internet-service-space|title=Eight Satellite Constellations Promising Internet Service From Space|author=Thierry Dubois|date=Dec 19, 2017|work=Aviation Week & Space Technology}}</ref>
! Constellation
! Manufacturer
! Number
! Weight
! {{abbr|Unveil.|Unveiled}}
! {{abbr|Avail.|Available}}
! Altitude
! Offer
! Band
! Inter-sat.<br/>links
|-
|[[IRIS²]]
|[[European Space Agency]]
|TBD
|TBD
|
|
|
|
|
|

|-
| [[Telesat]] LEO
| {{ubl
 | [[Airbus]] [[Surrey Satellite Technology|SSTL]]
 | [[SS/Loral]]{{efn|first two prototypes}}
 }}
| 117–512<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://spacenews.com/telesat-says-ideal-leo-constellation-is-292-satellites-but-could-be-512/ |title=Telesat says ideal LEO constellation is 292 satellites, but could be 512 |magazine=[[SpaceNews]] |date=11 September 2018 |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref>
| {{N/A}}
| 2016
| 2027
| {{cvt|1,000–1,248|km|mi|disp=br}}
| [[Fiber-optic]] cable-like 
| [[Ka band|K<sub>a</sub>]] (26.5–40&nbsp;GHz)
| [[Laser communication in space|Optical]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/download.do?attachment_key=1190014|title=Telesat Technical Narrative|last=Telesat Canada|date=August 24, 2017|website=FCC Space Station Applications|access-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/ib/forms/reports/swr031b.hts?q_set=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number/%3D/SATPDR2017030100023&prepare=&column=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number|title=SAT-PDR-20170301-00023|last=Telesat Canada|date=August 24, 2017|website=FCC Space Station Applications|access-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hongyun (satellite)|Hongyun]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201803/05/WS5a9c9a3ba3106e7dcc13f807.html |title=Satellite will test plan for communications network |work=[[China Daily]] |last=Zhao |first=Lei |date=5 March 2018 |access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>
| [[China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation|CASIC]] 
| 156
| 
| 2017
| 2022
| {{cvt|160–2,000|km|mi|disp=br}}
|
| 
| 
|-
| [[Hongyan (satellite)|Hongyan]]<ref name=hongyan>{{cite news |url=https://gbtimes.com/china-to-launch-first-hongyan-leo-communications-constellation-satellite-soon |title=China to launch first Hongyan LEO communications constellation satellite soon |work=[[GBTimes]] |first=Andrew |last=Jones |date=13 November 2018 |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230438/https://gbtimes.com/china-to-launch-first-hongyan-leo-communications-constellation-satellite-soon |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|CASC]]
| 320-864<ref>{{cite web |author=((EL2squirrel (cedar))) |url=https://twitter.com/EL2squirrel/status/1205338846671429632 |website=Twitter |title=Chinese version of OneWeb: The Hongyan system consists of 864 satellites, with 8&nbsp;Tbps of bandwidth, Orbital altitude 1175km |date=12 December 2019 |access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
| 
| 2017
| 2023
| {{cvt|1,100–1,175|km|mi|disp=br}}
|
| 
| 
|-
| [[Hanwha Systems]]<ref name=hanwha>{{cite news |url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/mobility/2021/03/31/hanwha-systems-plans-2000-satellite-leo-constellation-for-mobility-applications/ |title=Hanwha Systems Plans 2,000-Satellite LEO Constellation for Mobility Applications |work=Via Satellite |first=Rachel |last=Jewett |date=31 March 2022 |access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref>
| 
| 2000
| 
| 2022
| 2025
| 
|
| 
| 
|-
| [[Kuiper Systems|Project Kuiper]]
| [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]
| 3236
|
| 2019
|2024
| {{cvt|590–630|km|mi|disp=br}}
| 56°S to 56°N<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/4/18295310/amazon-project-kuiper-satellite-internet-low-earth-orbit-facebook-spacex-starlink|title=Amazon will launch thousands of satellites to provide internet around the world|last=Porter|first=Jon|date=2019-04-04|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref>
|
|
|}

Some systems were proposed but never realized:
{| class="wikitable  sortable"
|+ Abandoned communication satellite constellation designs
! Name
! Operator
! Constellation design
! Freq.
! Services
! Abandoned date
|-
|[[Celestri]]
|[[Motorola]]
|63 satellites at 1400&nbsp;km, 48° (7 planes)
|K<sub>a</sub> band (20/30&nbsp;GHz)
|Global, low-latency broadband Internet services
| 1998 May
|-
| [[Teledesic]]
| [[Teledesic]]
| {{ubl
 | 840 satellites at 700 km, 98.2° (21 planes) [1994 design]
 | 288 satellites at 1400 km, 98.2° (12 planes) [1997 design]
 }}
|K<sub>a</sub> band (20/30&nbsp;GHz)
| 100 Mbit/s up, 720&nbsp;Mbit/s down global internet access
| 2002 October
|-
|[[LeoSat]]
|[[Thales Alenia Space|Thales Alenia]]
|78–108 satellites at 1400 km
|[[Ka band|K<sub>a</sub>]] (26.5–40&nbsp;GHz)
|High-speed broadband internet
| 2019
|}


{{notelist}}

; Progress
* [[Boeing Satellite Systems|Boeing Satellite]] is transferring the application to OneWeb<ref name="boeing-to-oneweb">{{cite web|url=https://advanced-television.com/2017/12/11/boeing-wants-to-help-oneweb-satellite-plans/|title=Boeing wants to help OneWeb satellite plans|date=2017-12-17|publisher=Advanced Television|access-date=2018-10-21}}</ref>
* [[LeoSat]] shut down completely in 2019<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://spacenews.com/leosat-absent-investors-shuts-down/ |title=LeoSat, absent investors, shuts down|magazine=Space News}}</ref>
* The [[OneWeb satellite constellation|OneWeb constellation]] had 6 pilot satellites in [[2019 in spaceflight#February|February 2019]], 74 satellites launched as of 21 March 2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51991325|title=OneWeb increases mega-constellation to 74 satellites|date=2020-03-21|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> but filed for bankruptcy on 27 March 2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-oneweb-blames-coronavirus-collapse-090027262.html|title=Coronavirus: OneWeb blames pandemic for collapse|date=2020-03-30|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47378/808974_437-1.pdf |title=Voluntary Petition for Non-Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy |website=Omni Agent Solutions |date=2020-03-27|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref>
* [[Starlink]]: first mission ([[Starlink#List of launches|Starlink 0]]) launched on 24 May 2019; 955 satellites launched, 51 deorbited, 904 in orbit {{as of|2020|11|25|lc=on|df=UK}}; public beta test in limited latitude range started in November 2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-invites-starlink-internet-beta-testing|title=SpaceX opens Starlink satellite internet to public beta testers: report|author=Samantha Mathewson|date=6 November 2020}}</ref>
* [[O3b mPOWER]]: first 6 satellites launched December 2022-November 2023 with service start April 2024. 7 more in 2024–2026.<ref>[https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2024/04/24/ses-o3b-mpower-meo-system-is-now-operational-service-rollout-to-follow/ ''SES’ O3b mPOWER MEO System is Now Operational, Service Rollout to Follow''] Via Satellite. 24 April 2024. Accessed 29 April 2025</ref>
* [[Telesat]] LEO: two prototypes: 2018 launch 
* [[CASIC]] [[Hongyun (satellite)|Hongyun]]: prototype launched in December 2018<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/12/chinese-long-march-11-launches-hongyun-satellite/ |title=Chinese Long March 11 launches with the first Hongyun satellite |work=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]] |first=Rui C. |last=Barbosa |date=21 December 2018 |access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|CASC]] [[Hongyan (satellite)|Hongyan]] prototype launched in December 2018,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/12/long-march-2d-20-hongyan-1-launch/ |title=Long March 2D concludes 2018 campaign with Hongyan-1 launch |work=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]] |first=Rui |last=Barbosa |date=29 December 2018 |access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref> might be merged with [[Hongyun (satellite)|Hongyun]]<ref>{{cite tweet |user=Cosmic_Penguin |number=1205840577012518913 |title=Notice that these satellites from CASC are mentioned as part of a "national satellite Internet system". There are rumors that several of the planned Chinese private LEO comsat constellations have been recently absorbed into one big nationalized one. |date=14 December 2019 |access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
* [[Kuiper Systems|Project Kuiper]]: FCC filing in July 2019. Prototypes launched in October 2023.