In a rarity, SpaceX has told the FCC it’ll trim the total number of Starlink satellites it plans on operating amid concerns from rivals, environmental groups, and astronomers about the system’s sheer size.
The company will reduce the satellites needed for Starlink’s “V-band” constellation, which was designed to work alongside first-generation Starlink satellites. In 2018, the FCC granted SpaceX a license to operate 7,518 V-band satellites at 335km to 346km above the planet—significantly closer than the existing Starlink satellites, which hover over Earth at about 550km.
The V-band constellation was designed to deliver even more satellite internet bandwidth and capacity to customers on the ground. But so far, SpaceX has yet to launch any V-band satellites for Starlink. Instead, the company has been pushing the FCC to approve a second-generation Starlink constellation that’ll span nearly 30,000 satellites and operate in various orbits ranging from 340km to 614km above the planet.
The scale of the second-gen Starlink constellation has sparked opposition over concerns it’ll interfere with other satellite services, crowd out the competition, and create a toll on the Earth's environment and night skies.
On Thursday, SpaceX sent a letter to the FCC, saying it’s already been working with federal agencies and scientists “to establish and implement best practices designed to preserve space and our environment for future generations.” The same letter also dismisses the environmental concerns lobbed by competitor Viasat as “baseless.”
The company then added: “SpaceX hereby notifies the Commission of its intent, following issuance of the Gen2 license, to seek a modification of its V-band authorization to significantly reduce the total number of satellites ultimately on orbit.”
SpaceX didn't specify a number. But the company plans on integrating the V-band technology as payloads onboard second-gen Starlink satellites designed to operate at lower Earth orbits. “This modification will not increase, and may slightly reduce, the number of V-band space stations and it will not materially affect any other aspects of the V-band license,” SpaceX said.
In 2018, FCC imposed a deadline for the V-band constellation of 50% by Nov. 19, 2024. All remaining satellites need to be up Nov. 19, 2027, or the company risks losing the license.
SpaceX already has a license to operate 4,408 satellites for the existing, first-generation Starlink constellation. However, SpaceX has been urging the FCC for clearance of the second-gen constellation to improve Starlink's capacity and speeds when many users in the US are facing congestion woes. The company currently has over 3,200 Starlink satellites in orbit, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell.