Link: The FCC is letting SpaceX launch 7,500 more Starlink satellites

The FCC has approved SpaceX's request to launch an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites. This increases the total satellites planned in orbit to approximately 15,000 globally by the end of 2031.

Previous coverage and capacity regulations have been lifted to accommodate this expansion. While initially aiming for 30,000 satellites, SpaceX received approval for only half that number currently.

Elon Musk's company faces a tight schedule, with 50% of the new satellites required to be operational by December 2028. The remainder must be launched by December 2031.

Despite earlier conflicts with the government and Musk's reconciliation efforts, SpaceX is content with the FCC's current decision. The approval reflects a compromise and a step forward in their expansive space operations.

This large-scale deployment may heighten astronomers' worries about light pollution and general concerns about space debris and the risk of orbital collisions. SpaceX had previously adjusted the orbit of some satellites to mitigate collision risks.

The development promises enhanced connectivity features like direct-to-cell links and internet speeds reaching up to 1 Gbps outside the USA, factors that likely influenced the FCC's approval despite the risks. #

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