SpaceX Gets Approval For Full Satellite Internet Constellation

Source: SpaceX

SpaceX received permission to launch 7,518 satellites into orbit last week from the Federal Communications Commission in the United States, the second such approval from the FCC after receiving approval for the launch of 4,425 satellites in March 2018. The approval means SpaceX has now received full approval for the 12,000 satellites needed to launch Starlink, a project which will use low-orbiting satellites to provide global internet connectivity. SpaceX has stated it intends to send its first batch of satellites into orbit in 2019 and expects to have the entire Starlink constellation up and running by the mid 2020s. 

Starlink, which is expected to cost $10 billion to develop, will provide internet coverage globally by creating a synchronized orbit of satellites that will ensure there is line of sight with at least one of Starlink's satellites at all times from anywhere on earth. 

The FCC also approved the requests of 3 other companies to send satellites into space - Keplar Communications, LeoSat, and Telesat. SpaceX's approval is conditioned on it launching half of the approved satellites into orbit within the next six years. 


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