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Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. guided 260 Starlink satellites to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere between Dec. 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, according to a semiannual compliance report filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

SpaceX Retires Satellites As Starlink Fleet Grows

The filing said 176 satellites belonged to the first-generation Starlink constellation, while the rest came from the Gen2 fleet. Another 349 satellites were decommissioned in the same period and are expected to be disposed of in the coming months.

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Starlink operates more than 10,000 satellites as SpaceX expands the network and pushes Starlink Mobile, a direct-to-phone service. The satellites are designed to last about five years, letting SpaceX swap aging spacecraft for newer models as fuel runs low.

At the end of life, a Starlink satellite uses remaining fuel to lower its orbit. Atmospheric drag pulls it down, where heat and friction burn up the spacecraft rather than leaving dead hardware in low Earth orbit.

Reentries Become Routine Across Massive Constellation

The pace is now routine. Starlink removed more than 472 satellite links from orbit between December 2024 and May 2025. Retrieval is impractical, SpaceX says, because first-generation units weigh about 573 to 650 pounds, while second-generation versions weigh about 1,764 to 2,756 pounds.

A total of 1,357 Starlink satellites have re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up, according to tracking data compiled by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.

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The disposals come as SpaceX seeks a much larger Starlink network. In January, the FCC approved 7,500 additional Gen2 satellites, while SpaceX has long discussed a constellation that could eventually reach 42,000 satellites.

AI Data Center Plans Raise Stakes

The burnups also intersect with SpaceX’s newer AI ambitions. Elon Musk wants orbital data centers to bypass Earth’s strained power grids. SpaceX has sought FCC permission for up to 1 million compute satellites, unveiled an AI1 design and outlined a Terafab chip project in Bastrop, Texas, intended to produce 1 terawatt of processors annually.

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SpaceX expects specialized facilities to assemble AI satellites by late 2027, with initial orbital compute launches targeted for 2028 and a longer-term goal of 100 gigawatts of annual orbital compute capacity.

Photo courtesy: Thrive Studios ID via Shutterstock

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Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

Realberry

Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. With a portfolio spanning 13 million square feet across seven U.S. states, Realberry focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing real estate with an emphasis on long-term value creation while its principals often invest alongside clients to help align interests.

Immersed

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

BluSky AI

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible.

ARK7

Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities. By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Miso Robotics

Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations. As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service.

Vinovest 

Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.

EquityMultiple 

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process. 

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.

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