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.

Orbital Data Centers: Genius Solution or Spectacular Overreach?

Not just what launched — but why the scale of constellationfilings signals something bigger: AI infrastructure moving off-planet.

This episode isn’t about one rocket.
It’s about the strategic shift from “connect the world” to “compute in orbit.”

Launches are accelerating — and that part isn’t surprising anymore.

In this episode of What’s Up There?!, Robin and Shay look beyond cadence to examine what actually changed in early 2026. Who launched, what stayed in orbit, and why the real story isn’t volume — it’s who is starting to show up.

While SpaceX continues to dominate satellite deployment, new announcements point to a shift higher up the stack. Blue Origin’s TerraWave constellation signals an emerging layer of orbital backbone infrastructure designed for governments, hyperscalers, and data-intensive applications.

We close with a snapshot of where things stand right now above Earth — roughly 14,500 spacecraft in orbit — and a pace that shows no sign of slowing down.

In our inaugural episode, Shay and Robin break down what actually went up into space in 2025 — from record-breaking launch cadence to the rise of commercial satellite constellations and reusable rockets.

In under seven minutes, we look at what launched, what’s operating, and why it matters — without the hype.