Starlink Faces Second Outage in Two Weeks as SpaceX Expands Satellite Fleet
Elon Musk’s SpaceX-run satellite internet service, Starlink, experienced another brief outage on Monday, with thousands of users reporting disruptions on Downdetector. This marks the second service interruption in just two weeks.
During the July 24 blackout, SpaceX’s Starlink engineering team attributed the issue to a breakdown in critical internal software that supports the core network. That disruption came shortly after T-Mobile launched its Starlink-powered direct-to-phone service, aimed at keeping mobile users connected in remote areas beyond the reach of traditional cell towers.
Starlink now serves more than six million users across 140 countries, making it the world’s largest satellite broadband network. According to independent research, the constellation already includes over 7,000 operational satellites—dwarfing any competitor’s fleet.
Despite the technical hiccup, SpaceX continues to aggressively expand. On Monday, the company successfully deployed another batch of satellites from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. The long-term plan calls for doubling annual launches and landings at the site, from 50 to 100 missions per year.
However, not everyone is on board. Just last week, the California Coastal Commission unanimously opposed the U.S. Space Force’s request to authorize higher launch volumes, citing inadequate assessments of the potential effects on nearby communities and wildlife.
As the debate over expansion heats up, Starlink’s growing pains highlight both the promise and the challenges of building a global satellite internet network.
