/ 20:33 IST At the current rate of launches, experts caution we may hit that ceiling well before 2050. Look up at the night sky and there’s a good chance you’re staring at more than just stars. As of May 2025, Earth is being circled by over 11,700 active satellites, a number that’s climbing with astonishing speed. Data cited by Live Science revealed that more than 2,800 satellites were launched in 2024 alone, amounting to roughly one new launch every 34 hours. Much of this orbital rush is being driven not by governments, but by private space giants, with Elon Musk’s SpaceX leading the charge. The company’s ambitious Starlink programme has already deployed more than 7,400 satellites, accounting for nearly 60 percent of all operational satellites currently in orbit. Story continues below Advertisement