SpaceX has filed a request with the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch 100,000 additional satellites to its Starlink constellation, with the aim of multiplying the current capacity of its satellite internet network by 100. The request, which has surprised even industry analysts, would be the largest deployment of space infrastructure in history.
Starlink currently has around 7,000 operational satellites, a figure that already generated controversy among astronomers and space agencies due to the light pollution of the night sky and the risk of collisions in orbit. SpaceX argues that the new fleet would use third-generation (V3) satellites, larger and with greater capacity, capable of providing high-speed internet to rural areas and regions without traditional coverage. The company assures that the technology has improved enough to minimize the visual impact and orbital risks.
If approved, this massive deployment could forever change access to the internet on the planet, especially in developing countries and remote areas. However, organizations such as the International Astronomical Union have already expressed concern about the impact on scientific observation of space. The FCC’s decision is expected in the coming months and will mark a before and after in the regulation of commercial space.
— Marta, for inteligencia intermitente.
