The Union of Concerned Scientists has released its latest update on the number of active satellites in orbit which now number over 2000, double what was in orbit just six years ago.
The database is current as of March 31 and lists 2062 active satellites. Unofficially, that number has grown since March 31 with the addition of around 104 satellites including last weeks SpaceX Starlink launch of 60 satellites, though not all those satellites can be considered active as of yet.
Significantly, the increase of new satellites added in the past year grew by 15% and we can expect that number to jump even higher as companies such as SpaceX, OneWeb and others build out their initial constellations in Low Earth Orbit. In fact, we might see annual increases of 15% to 30% for several years before the rate decreases again.
UCS Satellite Database updates since 2011:
- 2062 active satellites (March 31, 2019)
- 1957 (November 30 , 2018)
- 1,886 (April 30, 2018)
- 1738 (August 31, 2017)
- 1419 (June 30, 2016)
- 1305 (August 31, 2015)
- 1167 (January 31, 2014)
- 1084 (August 31, 2013)
- 1071 (May 31, 2013)
- 1016 (July 31, 2012)
- 965 (August 31, 2011)
The graphic above indicates countries that have active satellites in orbit as of 2016. Several new countries have been added including Angola, Kenya and Ghana as the African map starts to fill out.
Canadian satellites
There are 37 active satellites that have Canada listed as the country operator/owner. Additional Kepler Communications has KIPP listed as beingcountry operator/owner of the United Kingdom.Arabsat 7F (Nimiq 1) is listed as Multinational.
It might surprise you to know that Canada has only five active government satellites;
- Cassiope (operator/owner: Canadian Space Agency)
- NEOSSat(operator/owner: Canadian Space Agency)
- SCISAT(operator/owner: Canadian Space Agency)
- M3MSat(operator/owner: DRDC/Canadian Space Agency)
- Sapphire(operator/owner: DND)
- MOST (Microvariability & Oscillations of STars) (Listed as active but has been decommissioned but still in orbit)(operator/owner: Canadian Space Agency/Private)
There are six civil active satellites listed;
- Ex-Alta 1 (QB50 – CA03) (Note: the satellite was taken offline in Nov. 2018 and scheduled to re-enter and burn up in the atmosphere)
- BRITE-CA-1 (BRITE Toronto) (UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory)
- Can-X2 (Canadian Advanced Nanospace experiment)(UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory)
- Can-X4(UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory)
- Can-X5(UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory)
- CanX-7(UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory)
There are 27 commercial satellites listed;
- Arabsat 7F (Nimiq 1) (Operator/owner: Arab Satellite Communications Org. (ASCO)
- AprizeSat 5 (Aprize Satellite)
- AprizeSat 7 (Aprize Satellite)
- Ciel-2 (Ciel Satellite Group)
- Nimiq 5 (Echostar Corporation – was Telesat)
- AprizeSat 9 (exactView-11)(exactEarth)
- exactView 1(exactEarth)
- exactView 6 (AprizeSat 6)(exactEarth)
- exactView 9(exactEarth)
- GHGSat-D (Greenhouse Gas Satellite – Demonstrator, Claire)
- KIPP-1 (Kepler Communications)
- Kepler-2 CASE(Kepler Communications)
- Radarsat-2 (Radarsat International – MDA)
- Anik F1 (Telesat)
- Anik F1R(Telesat)
- Anik F2(Telesat)
- Anik F3(Telesat)
- Anik G1(Telesat)
- LEO Vantage 1(Telesat)
- Nimiq 2(Telesat)
- Nimiq 4(Telesat)
- Nimiq 6(Telesat)
- Telstar 11N(Telesat)
- Telstar 12V (Telstar 12 Vantage)(Telesat)
- Telstar 14R (Estrela do Sul 2)(Telesat)
- Telstar 19 Vantage(Telesat)
- Telstar 18 VANTAGE (Apstar 5C)(Telesat/APT Satellite Holdings Ltd.)
The number of Canadian commercial satellites should also increase significantly as Telesat, Kepler, GHGSat, NorthStar, UrtheCast, CB2.0 Communications, and Helios Wire all attempt to launch constellations of satellites of varying sizes over the next five years.
I'm a space technology enthusiast with a deep understanding of satellite technology and its applications. My expertise comes from closely following developments in the space industry, including satellite launches, constellations, and advancements in satellite technology.
Now, diving into the information you provided:
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The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Satellite Database Update:
- The latest update from the UCS reveals a significant increase in the number of active satellites, reaching 2062 as of March 31.
- The growth rate in the past year was 15%, and it's expected to continue, with companies like SpaceX, OneWeb, and others expanding their constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
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Satellite Growth Trends:
- The annual increases in active satellites have been notable over the years, with a substantial jump from 965 in August 2011 to 2062 in March 2019.
- The graphic illustrates the distribution of active satellites among countries, showcasing new additions like Angola, Kenya, and Ghana.
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Canadian Satellites:
- Canada has 37 active satellites, with Kepler Communications having KIPP listed as the country operator/owner of the United Kingdom.
- Noteworthy is that Canada has only five active government satellites, including Cassiope, NEOSSat, SCISAT, M3MSat, and Sapphire.
- There are six civil active satellites and 27 commercial satellites from various operators, such as Telesat, exactEarth, Aprize Satellite, and Kepler Communications.
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Commercial Satellite Expansion in Canada:
- The article mentions the potential for a significant increase in the number of Canadian commercial satellites. Companies like Telesat, Kepler, GHGSat, NorthStar, UrtheCast, CB2.0 Communications, and Helios Wire plan to launch constellations of satellites in the next five years.
This information showcases the dynamic landscape of satellite technology, with a focus on the growth of constellations, advancements in commercial satellite deployment, and the increasing role of various countries in satellite operations. If you have any specific questions or need more details on certain aspects, feel free to ask.
