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SpaceX seeks the approval of the Federal Communications Commission to change the spacing of its broadband Starlink satellites, in order to extend Internet services to a larger part of the United States according to a schedule faster.
"This adjustment will accelerate coverage in the southern states and US territories, potentially in southern US regions by the end of the next hurricane season and reach other US territories. 39, here the next hurricane season, "said SpaceX in an application filed in August 30 and accepted last week.
If SpaceX complies with this schedule, Starlink coverage may be available in the 48 contiguous US states by November 2020, the end of next year's hurricane season.
The implication is that the adjustment would serve the public interest, as hurricane-prone areas, such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, could benefit from Starlink's satellite broadband service sooner provided that.
SpaceX noted that the change in spacing would not require changes to the altitude or allowable inclination of satellites, their operational characteristics or the effect on orbital debris. Instead, the 1,584 satellites included in the application would be moved to orbit, which would triple the number of orbital planes (to 72) but reduce the number of satellites in each plane by two-thirds (to 22).
Previously, SpaceX planned to begin serving the northern United States and extend that service south to the equator in six other launches.
SpaceX has confirmed the flexibility of its deployment process by studying the performance of its first 60 Starlink satellites, launched in May. Three different orbital aircraft can be powered in a single launch, simplifying the process, the company said.
"The proposed replacement would require fewer satellite launches – perhaps even half – to enable service across the contiguous United States (as well as in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and Northern Mariana Islands), "says SpaceX.
The FCC's record focuses on US coverage, but SpaceX noted that replacement would also replace coverage for other equatorial regions of the world.
SpaceX analyzed the potential impact on four other broadband mega-constellations approved by the FCC: OneWeb and Kepler Communications in the Ku band, as well as Telesat's O3b service and SES in the Ka band. The analysis showed that the spacing gap would have a "negligible effect" on these systems and that any initial radio interference effect "would be improved as SpaceX continued deploying its constellation," the company said.
Amazon is currently seeking clearance from the FCC for its Kuiper project broadband constellation. In its repository, SpaceX did not mention Amazon's projects.
SpaceX said it would coordinate with other satellite operators to avoid the risk of collision, and announced that it was striving to contact astronomers to assess the impact of its satellites on celestial observations. .
"There is no reason to believe that satellite replacement would have a material impact on this ongoing reflectivity analysis (albedo), but SpaceX remains committed to working with the astronomical community to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution." said the company.
If the story is a guide, the SpaceX application is likely to elicit reactions from other mega-constellation operators. This month's controversy over a close encounter between a Starlink satellite and a European wind measurement satellite illustrates how complicated satellite satellite changes can be.
SpaceX has clearance from the FCC to launch nearly 12,000 satellites, including the 1,584 spacecraft covered by the last depot. He says he plans "several more launches by the end of 2019." Other documents suggest that the next launch of Starlink could take place next month.
At the World Satellite Business Week conference in Paris last week, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said she hoped that 24 Starlink missions would be launched in 2020. If 60 satellites are launched each mission, this equates to 1,440 Starlink spacecraft, more is launched this year.
Elon Musk, the president of SpaceX, said the Starlink constellation would be "useful" with 400 satellites and "economically viable" with 1,000 satellites.
Starlink satellites are manufactured at SpaceX facilities in Redmond, Wash State.
Another satellite operator with connections in the Seattle area, BlackSky, also has an application in front of the FCC. This application is intended to expand the BlackSky Earth Observation constellation, currently available in orbit, to 16 satellites and replacements to 16 satellites.
The next four satellites are to be launched in November by an Indian SSLV rocket, and another eight are expected to follow by the end of next year.
BlackSky's filings confirm that Mithril Capital, PeterThiel's venture capital, holds the largest share of the voting shares of BlackSky's parent company, Spaceflight Industries, in Seattle – 24.4743%, to be exact. They also confirm that Jason Andrews is no longer the CEO of Spaceflight Industries.
Hat tip to Jon Brodkin at Ars Technica.
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