The number of satellites overhead could rise by at least half over the next decade , according to projections . While there are currently around 2,000 satellites orbiting Earth , there is expected to be a rapid expansion in the number of launches over the next few decades . SpaceX 's Discovery project aims to launch 12,000 devices into orbit by 2027 , while a number of other large - scale schemes are also expected to contribute to the growth .
The number of satellites overhead could rise by at least fivefold over the next decade, according to projections. While there are currently around 2,000 satellites orbiting Earth, there is set to be a rapid expansion in the number of launches over the next few years. SpaceX's Starlink project aims to send 12,000 devices into orbit by 2027, while a range of other large-scale schemes are also expected to contribute to the growth.