SpaceX will be able to send 7,500 new Starlink satellites, and unveils an offer for the military


Eric Bottlaender

Space specialist

December 05, 2022 at 5:10 p.m.

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starlink © Starlink

Lots of satellites to go on the internet. © SpaceX

The powerful American FCC has given the authorizations for the deployment of the second phase of the project of Starlink megaconstellation. SpaceX, which asked to send 30,000 additional satellites, will have to agree to reduce its ambitions. But the company is bouncing back with a defense-only proposition.

Deployment conditions are tightening.

Starlink continues to expand

With more than 3,500 Starlink satellites already sent into orbit (more than 3,000 are still there), the high-speed deployment of SpaceX’s super or megaconstellation is at the center of much debate. The American company, which positioned itself first in this coveted segment of connectivity in low orbit, has succeeded in attracting more than 500,000 customers and numerous professional contracts, in particular with cruise ships and air links.

Starlink fairing 1 © SpaceX

The next generation of Starlink will be larger and will mostly use Starship. © SpaceX

But Starlink does not intend to stay on these figures, because the Hawthorne firm is preparing its second generation. Larger satellites, with more capable transponders, better antennas and inter-constellation links to limit the number of ground relays needed. For this, SpaceX had requested authorization to deploy 30,000 satellites (29,988 to be precise) from the American authorities. The FCC (Federal Communications Agency) has authorized this 1er December an expansion of 7500 satellites… But not more, for the moment. They will be positioned in orbits between 525, 530 and 535 kilometers in altitude.

A second generation under conditions

On the surface, everyone is happy. SpaceX first, which will be able to send twice as many satellites as currently, using Falcon 9 but also and especially Starship in the more or less near future. With its sights set on a significant increase in the number of its customers… And the FCC too, which is taking the time to observe the second wave of Starlink while maintaining control and tightening the screw on the conditions of deployment.

Indeed, not only are these 20,000 satellites less than requested, but control over the operators has (slightly) been strengthened. More limited orbits, mandatory deorbit capacities in less than 5 years, the FCC has given itself new tools. Including a count of satellites down for the year, which must not exceed a certain threshold, otherwise new deployments are prohibited. The US agency also called for more work on frequencies, improved in-orbit catalogs and better coordination with other constellation operators, whether communications-specific (like OneWeb or Kuiper) or not (like Planet or Spire).

As this is not its mission, however, the FCC has not put in place any mechanism in relation to the requests of astronomers.

Starshield, the call of the foot to the military

Now that SpaceX is able to design, launch, operate and manage a complete supply chain to antennas for hundreds of thousands of customers around the globe, the company is trying to expand its services. And for that, the US government and the needs of its military are always in the crosshairs. The latter have already tested Starlink, with dithyrambic evaluations, which led, for example, to recommendations for the Ukrainian military.

But American defense is reluctant to equip itself with it, because it is a public and commercial network, and such a concerned government does not want to transmit its data through it. As often, there are specific needs. What does it matter! SpaceX can completely build pallets of satellites identical to Starlink with different sensors, or different antennas, or shielded electronic systems. But these activities will be separated from the commercial network, and will therefore be called… Starshield.

There is some debate as to whether this is a photograph taken on a test Starshield satellite or one of Starlink’s latest models. © SpaceX.

The proposal is not detailed for the moment for the general public (will it ever be?), but Starshield is present on the SpaceX website to explain the concept. It is really a question of proposing to the governments, not only that of the United States moreover, a product specific to their needs.

Whether it is a cluster of satellites equipped with HD earth observation capabilities, receivers for military antennas, an encrypted network or other sensors, SpaceX would be the prime contractor for the design until delivery of the “final” product. The logic is easily understandable, as the company already produces more than a thousand satellites per year, the platform is all found… It is a question of putting on it what governments and defense need. Even if it means charging a high price for it.

Source : Space News



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