Starlink plans to launch another 30,000 satellites into Earth orbit for gigabit-speed, low-latency channels

Starlink plans to launch another 30,000 satellites into Earth orbit for gigabit-speed, low-latency channels

Starlink has filed a new application with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to receive approval to launch 29,988 additional second-generation (Gen2) satellites into Earth orbit to provide customers with gigabit speeds, low-latency communications and ubiquitous Internet connectivity .

Currently, there are about 6,500 Starlink satellites in orbit. The company’s current license from the FCC only allows 7,500 devices (85% selected).

In Starlink’s new application for an FCC license, SpaceX is asked to give permission to launch almost 30 thousand more devices in the near future, and also requests permission to use the Ku-, Ka-, V- and E-band frequency bands for their use not only for stationary satellite communication (FSS, Starlink dishes), but also for mobile satellite communication (MSS, directly from Starlink to regular iPhone/Android with 5G and 6G support).

SpaceX is also asking the FCC to allow the minimum elevation angle and lower it to 20 degrees. A low angle will improve coverage and allow ground stations, terminals and smartphones to switch less frequently from one satellite to another.

In addition, SpaceX requested several changes to the orbital parameters. The company requests permission to lower the nominal heights and ways. There are currently three standard sets of orbit altitudes and modes allocated to Starlink: 525km @ 53°, 530km @ 43° and 535km @ 33°, and the new appeal requests an orbit reduction to 480km @ 53°, 485km @ 43° and 475km @. It is also requesting permission to place some of the satellites in orbits between 340 and 365 kilometers, which should reduce the delay of data transmission through Starlink to less than 20 milliseconds.

Pros of lowering the orbit of Starlink satellites:

• speed, ping and the number of simultaneously served clients improves;
• Internet quality improves in northern, mountainous and other hard-to-reach regions;
• more compact, less energy-intensive and cheaper satellites can be used;

Disadvantages of orbit reduction:

• more devices and more frequent launches are required to cover the same area, but this is compensated by the required change in the angle of inclination;
• devices cling more to the atmosphere, depend more on solar activity and require more frequent corrections, but this is compensated by the smaller size and sailability of the device;
• the ISS is flying at an altitude of [email protected]°, the satellite group is close enough to approach the station, the risk of collision increases somewhat.

SpaceX documents say that the proposed changes will allow the second-generation Starlink system to provide gigabit communication speeds between customers and the IT infrastructure of companies around the world. To provide high-speed Internet, SpaceX plans to use Starlink V3 satellites, which will be launched using the Starship rocket. Experts question whether Starlink’s existing terminals will be able to support the improved speeds. SpaceX also claims that the updated second-generation Starlink network will not create radio interference with other networks. The American company expects that competitors in the market may object to these changes in their filings with the FCC.

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