A series of Starlink satellites will be launched into orbit after a launch on November 13, 2021.
SpaceX
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday issued a major authorization to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, authorizing the company to move forward with the launch of up to 7,500 next-generation satellites across its Starlink Internet network.
“Our action allows SpaceX to begin deploying Gen 2 Starlink,” the FCC wrote in the order.
The FCC denied SpaceX’s entire application, which included the deployment of nearly 30,000 satellites to low-Earth orbit, and placed some conditions on the company’s plan to deploy the satellites. It postponed the decision on the application to launch the full issue.
The FCC imposed a limit on the number of satellites in SpaceX’s second-generation Starlink constellation, also known as Gen2, to “ease concerns about orbital debris and space safety.”
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SpaceX must also coordinate with other satellite operators, as well as NASA and the National Science Foundation to protect science missions and radio astronomy, respectively.
The FCC’s decision is critical to SpaceX’s plans to expand its satellite network. Viasat, DISH and Amazon.
To date, SpaceX has launched approximately 3,500 first-generation Starlink satellites into orbit. The service had about 500,000 subscribers in June. The company has also steadily expanded Starlink’s product offerings by selling services to residential, commercial, RV, marine and aviation customers.
