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SpaceX Starlink becomes first US mega-constellation to gain FCC approval

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Sans fanfare, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made SpaceX the first US-based entity authorized to launch and operate a massive broadband internet satellite constellation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The Starlink constellation authorization comes a bit less than five weeks after SpaceX launched its first two prototype communications satellites as co-passengers with the Spanish PAZ imaging satellite. CEO Elon Musk confirmed that they had safely made it to orbit and were communication with ground control in Hawthorne, CA, but SpaceX’s lips have remained sealed beyond Musk’s brief mention.

Unofficially, sources in the loop were told that Musk forwarded a memo to all hands soon after launch, confirming that the Starlink prototypes had successfully sent their “Hello, world” message to ground control. In the month since launch, the Tintin twins appear to have both raised their orbits slightly, suggesting that their propulsion systems were/are at least partially functional. Per FCC licenses for the experimental satellites, the Tintins are expected to eventually raise their orbits from 500km to approximately 1100km over the course of testing, maneuvering that would require their SpaceX-designed ion propulsion modules to function properly.

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Gwynne Shotwell, COO of SpaceX, gave an official statement on the FCC’s authorization of Starlink, reiterating the company’s awareness of a huge amount of work ahead of any operational constellation.

“We appreciate the FCC’s thorough review and approval of SpaceX’s constellation license. Although we still have much to do with this complex undertaking, this is an important step toward SpaceX building a next-generation satellite network that can link the globe with reliable and affordable broadband service, especially reaching those who are not yet connected.”

As the SpaceX’s first foray into true electric propulsion and dedicated communications satellites, not to mention an array of cutting-edge technologies (optical/laser-based interlinks, advanced antenna tech, and more) presumed to be on board, it’s fair to assume that the public silence is indicative of a heads-down work ethic while Starlink engineers and technicians get a handle on the tasks before them and learn volumes about the manufacture and operation of advanced satellites. If they were to occur, failures or serious problems with these first two prototypes would, in fact, benefit SpaceX and strengthen all future prototype testing efforts, ultimately resulting in a more successful final product and happier customers in the long term.

SpaceX’s first two Starlink prototype satellites are pictured here before their inaugural launch, showing off a thoroughly utilitarian bus and several advanced components. (SpaceX)

Although the FCC’s approval carries with it a number of conditional requirements of SpaceX, it is all but guaranteed that SpaceX will be able to satisfy those conditions and ensure that Starlink remains authorized, barring any significant and unforeseen legal challenges. Of those conditions, the most significant condition of note relates to a request for additional information from SpaceX on the company’s end-of-life and deorbit practices in order to guarantee that the constellation’s 4,000+ satellites do not become a space debris risk. The most serious threat to Starlink as it stands proposed today is the FCC’s decision to deny SpaceX a waiver for the requirement that 50% of any given LEO internet constellation must be launched six years after approval. In the case of the 4400+ satellite Starlink constellation, this would require SpaceX to launch more than 30 satellites a month for every month between now and March of 2024. Thankfully, the FCC approval acknowledges that it will reconsider SpaceX’s request for a waiver of this requirement in the future, once the design of Starlink has been finalized. 

Correction: While the FCC’s final license grant appeared to deny a waiver requested by SpaceX for the requirement of launching 50% of the constellation within six years of licensing, the FCC has in fact already reconsidered this requirement [PDF] for uniquely large constellations out of its sheer impracticality. SpaceX should thus have some added flexibility in the pace of its deployment of Starlink.

Limited internet service from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation is not expected to begin before 2020 at the earliest. The FCC’s announcement can be read in the news release here [PDF]  or in the full application approval here [PDF].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5-WCwZ4cSE

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Eric Ralph is Teslarati's senior spaceflight reporter and has been covering the industry in some capacity for almost half a decade, largely spurred in 2016 by a trip to Mexico to watch Elon Musk reveal SpaceX's plans for Mars in person. Aside from spreading interest and excitement about spaceflight far and wide, his primary goal is to cover humanity's ongoing efforts to expand beyond Earth to the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere.

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SpaceX to expand Central Texas facility with $8M Bastrop project

Bastrop is already the site of several Elon Musk-led ventures.

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Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX is set to expand its presence in Central Texas with an $8 million project to enlarge its Bastrop facility, as per state filings. 

The 80,000-square-foot addition, which is scheduled to begin construction on September 24 and wrap in early January 2026, was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and initially reported by My San Antonio

New investment

Bastrop is already the site of several Elon Musk-led ventures. The upcoming expansion will extend SpaceX’s office at 858 FM 1209, near Starlink’s operations and The Boring Company’s facilities. Just down the road, X is housed in the Hyperloop Plaza at 865 FM 1209.

SpaceX’s expansion reflects a steady buildup of resources in Bastrop since the private space firm established its presence in the area. The addition was praised by Tesla Governor Greg Abbott, who wrote on X that the expansion will “bring more jobs, innovations and will strengthen Starlink’s impact worldwide.” 

State support

In March, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a $17.3 million state grant to SpaceX for an “expansion of their semiconductor research and development (R&D) and advanced packaging facility in Bastrop.” The project is expected to create more than 400 new jobs and generate over $280 million in capital investment.

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Following the grant award, the Texas Governor also noted that SpaceX’s facility would be growing by 1 million square feet across three years to boost its Starlink program. SpaceX’s Starlink division is among the company’s fastest-growing segments, with the satellite internet system connecting over 6 million users and counting worldwide. 

Recent reports have also indicated that Starlink has struck a deal with EchoStar to acquire 50 MHz of exclusive S-band spectrum in the United States and global Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) licenses. This should pave the way for Starlink to provide 5G coverage worldwide, even in remote areas. 

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Starlink’s EchoStar spectrum deal could bring 5G coverage anywhere

The agreement strengthens Starlink’s ability to expand its mobile coverage worldwide.

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Credit: SpaceX/X

SpaceX has struck a deal with EchoStar to acquire 50 MHz of exclusive S-band spectrum in the United States and global Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) licenses, paving the way for its next-generation Starlink Direct to Cell constellation. 

The agreement strengthens Starlink’s ability to expand its mobile coverage worldwide. With the upgraded system, SpaceX aims to deliver full 5G connectivity to unmodified cell phones and eliminate mobile dead zones worldwide.

Expanding mobile coverage

Starlink’s Direct to Cell service was first launched in early 2024 with satellites designed to connect directly to standard LTE mobile devices. Within days of deployment, engineers demonstrated texting from unmodified phones, followed by video calling. Over the past 18 months, SpaceX has grown the system to more than 600 satellites, which now offer service across five continents. Today, Starlink Direct to Cell is considered the largest 4G coverage provider worldwide, connecting over 6 million users and counting, according to SpaceX in a post.

The constellation integrates with Starlink’s broader fleet of 8,000 satellites via a laser mesh network. Operating at 360 kilometers (224 miles) above Earth, the satellites connect directly to devices without hardware or firmware modifications. The system is already supporting messaging, video calls, navigation, social media apps, and IoT connectivity in remote areas.

Next-generation system

Through its new EchoStar spectrum acquisition, SpaceX plans to develop a second-generation constellation with far greater capacity. The upgraded satellites will leverage SpaceX-designed silicon and advanced phased array antennas to increase throughput by 20x per satellite and increase total system capacity by more than 100x. These enhancements are expected to support full 5G cellular connectivity in remote areas, with performance comparable to terrestrial LTE networks.

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Partnerships with major mobile carriers remain central to Starlink’s expansion. Operators including T-Mobile in the United States, Rogers in Canada, KDDI in Japan, and Kyivstar in Ukraine are integrating Direct to Cell services for coverage in rural areas and during emergencies. The service has already provided critical communication during hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, enabling millions of SMS messages and emergency alerts to be delivered when ground networks were unavailable.

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SpaceX Starship launches face pushback in Florida over noise, flights—and nudists

SpaceX is seeking permission to fly its fully reusable Starship system from Launch Complex 39A.

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Credit: SpaceX

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has wrapped up a series of public hearings on SpaceX’s proposal to launch its Super Heavy Starship rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). 

The sessions, held both in-person and online, form part of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) review that will determine whether SpaceX would be cleared to conduct Starship launches and landings from Florida’s Space Coast.

FAA review and Starship launch plans

According to the FAA’s draft EIS, SpaceX seeks permission to fly its fully reusable Starship system from Launch Complex 39A, where construction of a dedicated tower and infrastructure has already begun. Proposed operations could involve landings at KSC or droneships positioned across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The FAA emphasized that final approval is not guaranteed with the completion of the EIS, as safety and financial requirements must still be met, as noted in a Space.com report.

Starship’s larger scale compared to Falcon 9 means expanded exclusion zones for air, sea, and beach access. The analysis also projected more than 60 annual closures of Playalinda Beach, alongside potential flight delays across Florida airports lasting 40 minutes to two hours. Port Canaveral would also be affected by maritime restrictions.

Local concerns

Public comments reflected a mix of optimism and unease. Aviation officials, such as Tampa International Airport COO John Tiliacos, warned of significant disruption to commercial flights. “There is the potential that there’s going to be significant impact to commercial aviation and the traveling public. That’s something that certainly the FAA needs to give consideration to and, frankly, come up with a plan to mitigate,” he stated. 

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Others raised health concerns, noting that chronic sleep disruption from launch noise could impact veterans and trauma survivors. Robyn Memphis, a neuroscience and psychology graduate student, stated that sleep disruptions from launch noise and sonic booms could carry lasting effects. “Chronic sleep disruption is not just inconvenient. This is directly linked to depression, anxiety… cardiovascular disease, even suicide risk. And being in Florida, we have many veterans and trauma survivors in the community,” she said.

Nudist protests and responses

Erich Schuttauf, the executive director of the American Association for Nude Recreation, also argued that places like Playalinda Beach, a nudist beach, are crucial for people who travel to places where public nudity is legal. His sentiments were echoed by fellow nudist Sue Stevens, who noted that “It’s probably a quarter million people that travel and think like I do, who look for destinations that are beautiful and surrounded by like-minded people.”

Photographer Max West, who plans to move to Florida to photograph Starship, noted that the spacecraft presents a notable step forward for humanity. And while its impact to communities is not marginal, the progress it offers is well worth it. “I’m not going to say that there is zero environmental impact there,” he said, though he also stated that there has to be some “little sacrifices along the way. “The turtles and the nudists will have to migrate. That’s the cost that you have to pay for this incredible stuff that’s happening.”

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