Project Kuiper’s constellation aims tot total more than 3,600 satellites by 2028. SpaceX’s Starlink, which already has had more than 8,500 satellites launched since 2019, has nearly 6,700 that remain operational in orbit, according to statistics maintained by astronomer Jonathan McDowell.

SpaceX is preparing to launch a new batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Wednesday afternoon from Florida.