The One‑Person Ledger Counting Every Object in Orbit

Jonathan McDowell has kept a decades-long, one‑person catalog of everything humanity has launched into orbit, cross‑checking Space Force data with launch manifests to produce a unified public record. His Starlink counts—most notably reaching 1,500 satellites in 2026—are the go‑to figures journalists and policymakers cite. The catalog’s accessibility, its careful editorial judgments about what’s “active,” and its private‑to‑public transition have made it the de facto reference for understanding the rapid growth of mega‑constellations, regulatory implications, and the finite nature of low‑Earth orbit. The piece also highlights how Space Daily views this concentration of space power and the ongoing debates over orbital resource management and interference with astronomy.