How it works
How Starlink works
Starlink is a network of thousands of small satellites flying a few hundred kilometers up, much closer than traditional internet satellites. A dish on the ground talks to whichever satellites are overhead, and they relay traffic to ground stations and, on newer satellites, to each other with lasers. Being close is what keeps the delay low enough for video calls and games.
Sources: starlink.com/technology, spacex.com/updates. What low Earth orbit means is in our sister site's glossary.
Recent Starlink missions
- Starlink Group 15-18October 31, 2026 · 04:04 UTCComplete
- Starlink Group 15-16October 27, 2026 · 07:25 UTCComplete
- Starlink Group 15-15October 23, 2026 · 22:48 UTCComplete
- Starlink Group 15-25October 13, 2026 · 00:28 UTCComplete
- Starlink Group 31-1 (Starship Flight 14)September 28, 2026 · 12:48 UTCComplete
From pad to orbit
How the satellites get up there
Falcon 9 batches
Most Starlink satellites go up stacked inside a Falcon 9 fairing, on a booster that lands and flies again.
Read moreStarship's bigger satellites
Starship is built to carry larger Starlink satellites than Falcon 9 can. Every flight test so far is on the Starship page.
Read moreLatest Starlink news
Short summaries of Starlink reports in our own words, each with a link to the original.
Read moreUnited says Starlink Wi-Fi is now on over half its daily flights
In a Spotify announcement on November 5, 2026, United said Starlink is on more than half of its daily flights and should be fleetwide before the end of 2027.
Read moreSpaceX is reportedly in talks to buy Boost Mobile, and analysts see hurdles
The Washington Post says SpaceX has talked with EchoStar about Boost Mobile for Starlink Mobile. No deal is announced, and AT&T and T-Mobile hold the network leases.
Read moreSpaceX picks Qualcomm for Starlink Mobile's nationwide 5G towers
Qualcomm says SpaceX chose its Dragonwing chips for Starlink Mobile's U.S. 5G network of tens of thousands of cell sites, with rollout starting in 2027.
Read moreStarlink Mini for camping, hiking and road trips
Internet where the road ends
Starlink Mini is built to pack: the dish is about the size of a laptop and weighs 1.1 kg. It runs on 12–48 V DC, or on a USB-C power source of at least 100 W with Starlink's cable accessory. Point it at open sky and it can keep a campsite, a van or a trailhead parking lot online. It won't help under thick trees or in a canyon: it needs a clear view of the sky.
Camping
Check the weather, send a check-in and download tomorrow's trail map.
Road trips and vans
Work from a scenic pullout. Whether you can use it on the move depends on your plan; check it on starlink.com.
Hiking basecamp
Leave it at camp, not on the trail. It needs open sky and power.
Fan pick · Starlink Mini
Take it on your next trip
If a dish that fits in a backpack sounds useful, check whether Starlink covers where you go. Plans, hardware and prices vary by country.
https://starlink.com/?referral=RC-DF-15863594-27054-5&utm_source=padzero&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=starlink_mini&utm_content=starlink_hubReferral link. We may earn a reward. Figures as of June 2026 to October 2, 2026. If you are new to Starlink and order through it on starlink.com, you get a referral reward as a credit on your second monthly bill, and Pad Zero may receive the same reward at no cost to you. Rewards apply to U.S. service addresses and eligible plans only; Starlink sets the amount and the rules. Pad Zero is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Starlink or SpaceX. Prices and availability vary by location; confirm on the official site.
Compare
Starlink Mini vs Standard
Pick Mini if you move; pick Standard if you stay put and want more Wi-Fi coverage in one place.
| Starlink Mini | Starlink Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Travel, camping and backup | A home, cabin or other fixed place |
| Dish size | 298.5 × 259 × 38.5 mm (11.75 × 10.2 × 1.45 in) | 594 × 383 × 39.7 mm (23.4 × 15.07 × 1.5 in) |
| Weight | 1.10 kg (2.43 lb); 1.16 kg (2.56 lb) with kickstand | 2.9 kg (6.4 lb); 3.2 kg (7 lb) with kickstand |
| Power use | 25–40 W on average | 75–100 W on average |
| Power input | 12–48 V DC, 60 W; or USB-C Power Delivery of at least 100 W (20 V/5 A) with Starlink's USB-C to barrel jack cable, sold separately | AC, through the included power supply |
| Wi-Fi | Built into the dish: WiFi 5, up to 112 m² (1,200 ft²) | Router 3 in the box: WiFi 6, up to 297 m² (3,200 ft²) |
| Weather rating | IP67 Type 4, with the DC power cable and Starlink plug installed | IP67 Type 4 |
| Operating temperature | −30 °C to 50 °C (−22 °F to 122 °F) | −30 °C to 50 °C (−22 °F to 122 °F) |
| Snow melt | Up to 25 mm (1 in) an hour | Up to 40 mm (1.5 in) an hour |
| Field of view | 110° | 110° |
| Price | See starlink.com (it varies by country and plan) | See starlink.com |
FAQ
Starlink questions
What is Starlink?
Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet service. It uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to bring broadband to a small dish almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky.
How many Starlink satellites are working?
11,100+ satellites working as of October 2, 2026, in the figures Pad Zero tracks. The number changes almost every week as Falcon 9 launches new batches and older satellites are retired.
What is Starlink Mini?
Starlink Mini is a compact Starlink dish with Wi-Fi built in, made to be carried and run from DC power, including a 100 W USB-C power source with Starlink's cable accessory. Full specs are in Starlink's spec sheet (checked November 4, 2026).
Starlink Mini vs Standard: which should I get?
Mini is for moving around: camping, road trips and backup. Standard is for one place, like a home or cabin, with a bigger dish and a separate router. Compare the specs in the table above; plans and prices vary by country.
Does Starlink work in the woods?
Trees, cliffs and buildings block the signal. Find the clearest patch of sky you can; the Starlink app has a tool that checks for obstructions before you set up.
How often does SpaceX launch Starlink satellites?
Starlink batches make up most SpaceX launches. Every upcoming one, with its time in UTC, is on Pad Zero's launch schedule.
Is Pad Zero affiliated with Starlink?
No. Pad Zero is an independent fan site, not affiliated with SpaceX or Starlink. The Starlink link on this page is a referral link, labeled where it appears.
Answers as of November 4, 2026.
On padzero.si
The AI side of this story
Posts on our sister site about the compute, models and networks behind it.
Starcloud to use Starlink laser terminals in orbit
Starcloud contracted for more than 50 Starlink Mini Laser terminals for over 25 satellites, reported May 26, 2026. Each link is rated up to 25 Gbps over up to 4,000 km, with first flight hardware expected within a year.
Read on padzero.siSpaceX files FCC application for orbital data centers
SpaceX filed with the FCC on January 30, 2026 for a system of up to one million data center satellites at 500 to 2,000 km. The FCC accepted it for comment on February 4, 2026.
Read on padzero.si