LEO mega-constellations: Starlink, OneWeb, Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile

The New Space Race in Low Earth Orbit

A revolution is underway in low Earth orbit as multiple companies deploy massive satellite constellations to deliver global broadband connectivity. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites parked 35,786 km above the equator, LEO constellations orbit between 300 and 2,000 km altitude, dramatically reducing signal latency from over 600 ms round-trip to under 50 ms. This proximity to Earth enables real-time applications previously impossible with satellite links. The scale is unprecedented — Starlink alone has deployed over 6,000 satellites, with plans for 42,000, while Amazon Kuiper, OneWeb,…