SpaceX Cleared to Launch 7,500 More Starlink Satellites
▼ Summary
– The FCC approved SpaceX’s plan to launch an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites, bringing its total authorized constellation to around 15,000.
– The approval includes a waiver of previous rules that prevented overlapping coverage and enhanced capacity, though the authorization is for half the 30,000 satellites SpaceX originally sought.
– SpaceX faces a deadline requiring 50% of these Gen2 satellites to be operational by December 2028, with the full constellation launched by December 2031.
– The expansion raises concerns from astronomers about light pollution and increases worries about space junk and orbital collision risks.
– The approval was granted despite these concerns, with the benefits of direct-to-cell connectivity and internet speeds up to 1 Gbps being deciding factors.
The Federal Communications Commission has granted SpaceX permission to deploy a massive new constellation of 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, significantly expanding its global broadband network. This authorization effectively doubles the company’s approved orbital fleet to approximately 15,000 satellites, a move poised to dramatically enhance internet coverage and capacity worldwide. The regulatory approval includes a crucial waiver, lifting previous restrictions that limited overlapping coverage and constrained system capacity, allowing for a denser and more powerful satellite network.
While SpaceX had initially applied for permission to launch nearly 30,000 satellites, the FCC’s current authorization caps the total at around 15,000. This permission comes with strict deployment milestones. Regulators mandate that half of these new Gen2 satellites must be launched and fully operational by December 2028, with the entire constellation completed by the end of 2031. Despite receiving approval for only half of its initial request, the company appears content with the decision. This development follows a period of public tension between SpaceX leadership and federal officials, suggesting a recent effort to repair those working relationships.
The prospect of launching thousands more satellites is certain to intensify existing debates. Astronomers have consistently raised alarms about light pollution from satellite constellations, which can interfere with ground-based observations of the cosmos. Concerns regarding space debris and the potential for orbital collisions also grow with every new satellite launched. SpaceX has previously adjusted the orbits of its existing satellites to mitigate collision risks, acknowledging the challenge of managing such a large fleet. However, the compelling benefits of the system seem to have carried the day for regulators. The advanced Gen2 network promises groundbreaking capabilities, including potential direct-to-cell phone connectivity in remote areas outside the United States and blistering internet speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second. These technological advancements represent a powerful argument for expanding satellite-based internet infrastructure, even amid valid concerns about the long-term sustainability of Earth’s orbital environment.
(Source: The Verge)
