Satellite Constellations
Multi-satellite systems — from GPS and Galileo to Starlink and OneWeb.
- BeiDouOperational
China's global navigation satellite system, using a mix of medium-Earth, geostationary, and inclined geosynchronous orbits.
OperatorCNSAOrbitMEOSize≈ 35 satellites across MEO, GEO, and inclined geosynchronous orbits - BlackSky GlobalActive
A commercial low-Earth-orbit constellation delivering rapid-revisit, high-cadence Earth imagery.
OperatorBlackSkyOrbitLEO - Galileo (navigation system)Operational
Europe's civil global navigation satellite system — owned by the EU and operated through EUSPA, with ESA as the design and procurement agent — offering high-accuracy positioning independent of GPS.
OperatorEuropean Union (EUSPA / ESA)OrbitMEOSize≈ 24 operational satellites plus spares - GlobalstarActive
A low-Earth-orbit satellite-phone and data constellation serving voice, messaging, and IoT connectivity.
OperatorGlobalstarOrbitLEO - GLONASSOperational
Russia's global navigation satellite system, providing worldwide positioning and timing from medium Earth orbit.
OperatorRoscosmosOrbitMEOSize≈ 24 operational satellites - GPS (Global Positioning System)Operational
The United States' global navigation satellite system, providing worldwide positioning, navigation, and timing from medium Earth orbit.
OperatorUnited States Space ForceOrbitMEOSize≈ 31 operational satellites - Iridium NEXTActive
The second-generation Iridium constellation of 66 cross-linked low-Earth-orbit satellites providing pole-to-pole voice and data coverage.
OperatorIridium CommunicationsOrbitLEOSize66 operational satellites plus on-orbit spares - O3bActive
SES's medium-Earth-orbit broadband constellation delivering low-latency connectivity to telecom, maritime, and enterprise customers between the tropics and beyond.
OperatorSESOrbitMEO - OneWebActive
A low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation providing global connectivity, focused on enterprise, government, and maritime users.
OperatorOneWebOrbitLEOSize≈ 630 first-generation satellites - Planet Dove (Flock)Active
Planet Labs' fleet of shoebox-sized Dove CubeSats that image the entire land surface of the Earth daily at medium resolution.
OperatorPlanet LabsOrbitSSOSizeHundreds of small CubeSats - StarlinkActive
SpaceX's low-Earth-orbit broadband internet constellation, the largest ever built, delivering global high-speed connectivity.
OperatorSpaceXOrbitLEOSizeThousands of satellites — the largest constellation ever deployed