As of 2021, there are thousands of satellites orbiting Earth. The exact number is constantly changing as new satellites are launched and older ones are retired or de-orbited.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, as of January 2021, there were about 2,666 active satellites in orbit around Earth, with about 1,950 of them in low Earth orbit (LEO), which is generally considered to be between about 100-1,200 miles above Earth's surface. The remaining active satellites are in higher orbits, such as geostationary orbit (GEO), which is about 22,236 miles above the Earth's equator, and other types of orbits. Which country has the most satellites ?
#1 THE UNITED STATES
The United States had about 1,117 active satellites in orbit around Earth, which is about 42% of the total number of active satellites. This includes satellites operated by the US military, NASA, and private companies such as SpaceX.
The United States has a long and rich history of success in satellite technology and space exploration. Here are some key milestones in the history of American success in satellite technology:
1957: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to be placed in orbit. This event sparked the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to a renewed focus on space exploration in the US.
1958: The United States launches its first satellite, Explorer 1, aboard a Jupiter-C rocket. This satellite discovered the Van Allen radiation belts, a significant achievement in space science.
1961: The United States launches the first successful manned spaceflight, with astronaut Alan Shepard aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft.
1963: The United States launches Syncom 2, the first geosynchronous communications satellite, which paved the way for the development of modern communications satellites.
1972: The United States launches the last of the Apollo program's manned lunar missions, Apollo 17. This was the first and only time humans have traveled to the moon.
1978: The United States launches the first satellite of the Global Positioning System (GPS), which would eventually become a key tool for navigation and location-based services.
1990s: The United States launches a number of important earth observation satellites such as Landsat, which has been used to monitor and study the Earth's land surface, and Terra and Aqua, which have been used to study the Earth's climate and environment.
2000s: The United States launches a number of important military and intelligence satellites such as the Keyhole series, which have been used for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
2021: SpaceX launches its first crewed mission, the Crew Dragon Demo-2, to the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board, which was the first time a privately-developed spacecraft carried humans to orbit, and marked the return of human spaceflight to American soil after the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011.
#2 CHINA
China is the second country with most satellites in orbit, with about 599 active satellites. China's satellite fleet includes a variety of types of satellites, including communications, earth observation, navigation, and military reconnaissance satellites.
China has had success in making satellites through a combination of factors, including government investment in space technology, the development of its own domestic satellite industry, and collaboration with other countries and companies. The Chinese government has made space exploration a priority, investing heavily in research and development and establishing organizations such as the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) to oversee the development and launch of satellites. Additionally, China has developed its own domestic satellite manufacturing industry, which has allowed it to produce satellites at a lower cost than many other countries. Finally, China has also collaborated with other countries and companies on satellite projects, which has helped to accelerate its progress in this field.
In 1970, China launched its first satellite, named Dongfanghong-1, which was developed with the assistance of the Soviet Union. In 1975, China launched its first domestically developed satellite, named Dongfanghong-2. These early satellites were primarily used for scientific research and communication purposes.
In the 1980s and 1990s, China continued to develop its satellite technology, launching a number of remote sensing and weather satellites. In 2000, China launched its first satellite navigation system, named Beidou. Since then, Beidou has been continuously upgraded and expanded, and it is now capable of providing positioning, navigation, and timing services to users around the world.
In recent years, China has made significant advances in satellite technology, including in the areas of earth observation, satellite-based internet, and space exploration. In 2019, China became the first country to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon. In 2020, China launched its first satellite for satellite-based internet, named Hongyun.
China continues to invest in space technology and expanding its satellite capabilities, with the goal of becoming a major player in the global space industry.
#3 RUSSIA
Russia is the third country with most satellites in orbit, with about 518 active satellites. Russia operates a diverse fleet of satellites, including those used for communications, earth observation, and navigation.
Formerly known as the Soviet Union, Russia has a long success history in the field of satellite technology dating back to 1957, when it successfully launched the first artificial satellite, named Sputnik 1, into orbit. This achievement marked the beginning of the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States.
In the following years, the Soviet Union continued to launch a number of satellites for various purposes, including scientific research, communication, and navigation. In 1964, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite for geostationary orbit, named Cosmos-186 and Cosmos-188, which were used for early warning of missile launches.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet Union continued to make advancements in satellite technology, launching a number of remote sensing and weather satellites, as well as the first module of the Mir space station.
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia inherited its satellite capabilities and continued to develop and launch new satellites. In 2011, Russia launched the first satellite of its new navigation system, named GLONASS, which is now fully operational and provides positioning, navigation, and timing services to users around the world.
Nowadays, Russia has continued to invest in space technology and expanding its satellite capabilities, with the goal of becoming a major player in the global space industry. Russia has been focusing on the development of new satellite technologies, and the creation of new space vehicles and probes, such as the "Venera-D" and "ExoMars" missions.
#4 EUROPE
Europe is the fourth country with most satellites in orbit, with about 200 active satellites. The European Space Agency (ESA) operates many of these satellites on behalf of the European Union and its member countries.
The European Union (EU) has a long history of funding satellite technology and space exploration. In 1975, the EU established the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), which was later replaced by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1975. The main goal of the ESA is to provide for and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation among European states in space research and technology and their space applications.
The EU and the ESA have jointly invested in a number of satellite projects over the years, including the Galileo satellite navigation system and the Copernicus Earth observation program. Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that went live in 2016, providing highly accurate positioning services to users around the world. Copernicus is a system of Earth observation satellites that provides data for a wide range of applications, including monitoring the environment, weather forecasting, and disaster management.
In recent years, the EU has increased its funding for satellite technology and space exploration. In 2016, the EU announced its “New Space Strategy” that aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the European space sector and to improve the use of space-based data and services for the benefit of citizens and the economy.
In 2021, the EU announced the launch of the European Space Programme (ESP) to strengthen the EU's autonomy and strategic capabilities in space, this program aims to create a new generation of European satellites, infrastructure, and new technologies. The ESP also includes a new initiative to increase the number of European satellite companies and to support the commercialization of space-based data and services.
Overall, the EU and the ESA have been actively funding satellite technology and space exploration for many years, with a focus on developing new technologies and increasing the use of space-based data and services for the benefit of citizens and the economy.
