SpaceX Cleared to Deploy 7,500 Additional Starlink Satellites by the FCC

The FCC has given the green light for SpaceX to launch an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites, bringing the total to around 15,000 in orbit globally. This approval also includes a waiver of previous restrictions that limited overlapping coverage and capacity enhancements.

Initially, SpaceX aimed for approval of 30,000 satellites, but for now, the FCC is allowing only 15,000. The company faces a timeline, with a requirement that 50 percent of the Gen2 satellites be launched and operational by December 1, 2028, and the remainder by December 2031. Despite the limitations, SpaceX appears pleased with the outcome, especially after a rocky relationship with the administration earlier this year.

However, the influx of new satellites is likely to spark concerns among astronomers about light pollution and the potential for space debris and collisions. Earlier this year, SpaceX had to lower the orbits of many satellites to mitigate collision risks. Nevertheless, the prospect of direct-to-cell connectivity outside the US and internet speeds reaching up to 1 Gbps seems to have outweighed these concerns.