In just the first few months of 2026, more than 1,200 objects have already been launched into orbit—most of them part of massive communications networks reshaping how the world connects.
This week on What’s Up There?, Shay and Robin break down the surge in satellite deployments, including a major milestone: Starlink surpassing 10,000 active satellites in orbit. As space fills up faster than ever, the conversation shifts from growth to competition.
We unpack the escalating tension between Amazon and SpaceX, as regulatory battles begin to shape the future of orbital infrastructure. Why is Amazon pushing back? What is SpaceX proposing? And what’s really at stake?
From rural broadband to global enterprise networks, we explore the real market driving this explosion—and why demand for connectivity from space is still just getting started.
Plus: Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket returns to form, signaling that launch capacity is expanding alongside ambition.
And as always, we close with the latest orbital census—what’s actually up there right now.
In this episode:
- The 2026 orbital surge: 1,200+ objects already launched
- Starlink’s 10,000+ satellite milestone
- Amazon vs SpaceX: the fight moves to regulators
- The real size of the LEO broadband opportunity
- Launch systems enabling the satellite boom
- What’s up there: a full snapshot of Earth’s orbit
Space isn’t empty anymore—and the race to fill it is accelerating.
🎧 Follow What’s Up There? for updates on the evolving space economy and the objects shaping our orbital future.