- SpaceX may launch another 7,500 Starlink satellites
- It means that 15,000 Gen2 models will be in orbit
- All satellites should be in the sky by December 2031.
SpaceX already has 7,500 of its Starlink Gen2 satellites in orbit and just received the green light from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch 7,500 more, bringing the total to 15,000.
The news was announced by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr (via Wccftech), and in Carr’s own words on social media, this decision will allow for “even better, faster and more advanced Internet services in the country.”
Connect to a Gen2 satellite via a Starlink satellite dish and promises higher capacities and lower latencies compared to first-generation models. The upgraded satellites have 20 times the performance and are easier to connect.
At the same time, the FCC has also granted SpaceX permission to operate its Starlink satellites over a wider range of frequencies and in a greater number of orbital configurations, which should ensure more reliable and faster service.
Security measures
President Trump is restoring America’s technological leadership. New today, the FCC authorized SpaceX to deploy and operate up to 15,000 next-generation satellites, enabling even better, faster and more advanced Internet services in the country.January 9, 2026
Questions have been raised about how saturated the edges of Earth’s atmosphere are becoming, and SpaceX originally wanted to put nearly 30,000 Gen2 satellites in space in 2020. Now, the FCC believes it’s safe to go from 7,500 to 15,000.
It’s also worth noting that SpaceX has recently lowered the altitude of 4,400 of its satellites to reduce the risk of collisions with other satellites and objects in space (including the International Space Station, of course).
That measure will no doubt have been taken into account when the FCC weighed its latest decision. The additional satellites also mean that Starlink will now be able to provide direct-to-cellular connectivity outside the US, where it has a partnership with T-Mobile.
The FCC says half of the newly approved satellites must be launched and in position by December 1, 2028. The other half will need to be operational by December 2031, so it could be a while before customers notice better service.
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