SpaceXSpaceX says that three of its 60 controversial Starlink satellites have failed in orbit, as the company moves towards the first broadcasting test of its ambitious space internet constellation. In a statement, the U.S.-based company revealed that 57 of its Starlink satellites were successfully communicating with stations back on Earth. The launch of these first 60 Starlink satellites occurred about a month ago on May 23. With the company hoping to launch a grand total of 12,000 Starlink satellites by the early 2020s, operating at altitudes from 550 to 1,100 kilometers, that would equate to 600 dead satellites left in orbit. If all these constellations come to fruition, they would add about 20,000 satellites into orbit; currently there are only 2,000 active satellites.

Source: Forbes June 30, 2019 13:00 UTC