Overview
- The filing proposes a low‑Earth‑orbit constellation between roughly 500 and 2,000 kilometers using near‑constant solar power, radiator cooling, intersatellite laser links and Ka‑band only as a backup for command and control.
- SpaceX provided no deployment schedule or cost estimate and asked the FCC to waive standard build‑out milestones that typically require half the system in six years and all in nine.
- Analysts note operators often over‑file for flexibility, and the FCC has historically authorized far fewer satellites, with about 15,000 spacecraft currently in orbit and ~9,500 belonging to Starlink.
- The company says the concept depends on Starship’s lower launch costs and heavy‑lift capacity; the rocket has flown multiple tests since 2023 and is expected to carry payloads soon, according to reporting.
- Scientists and competitors are preparing to contest debris, collision‑risk and astronomy impacts, and reporting links the plan to potential corporate moves including talks about merging SpaceX with Elon Musk’s xAI ahead of a possible IPO.