Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and notorious Twitter enthusiast, recently revealed that the next generation of Starlink internet satellites will be so massive they’ll require the company’s colossal Starship rocket for launch. This announcement, made via a post on X referencing SpaceX’s recent FCC filing, has sparked excitement and speculation about the future of the Starlink network.
“The next generation Starlink satellites, which are so big that only Starship can launch them, will allow for a 10X increase in bandwidth and, with the reduced altitude, faster latency,” Musk posted.
Musk has said in the past that Starship would need to deploy Starlink’s new satellites, but this time, the plan seems to be gaining momentum. SpaceX’s FCC filing requests permission to lower Starlink’s operational altitude to sub-300 miles and to launch these behemoth satellites from Boca Chica, Texas, aboard Starship, pending FAA approval.
While the filing lacks specifics about the satellites’ dimensions, it does highlight Starship’s “launch and return” capabilities, echoing recent promotional material for the rocket’s fifth test flight.
This all comes as SpaceX has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking approval for modifications to its Starlink satellite internet system. The company claims these changes will enable gigabit-per-second speeds, lower latency, and expanded mobile connectivity.
The proposed modifications include:
Flexible Spectrum Use: SpaceX seeks more flexible use of its spectrum licenses to support both fixed and mobile satellite services.
Lowering Satellite Altitudes: SpaceX wants to lower the operational altitudes of some Starlink satellites to improve network performance and increase capacity.
Adjusting Elevation Angles: Changes to satellite elevation angles aim to enhance customer connectivity and allow for longer connection times.
Upgraded Gen2 Satellites: New satellites will feature advanced hardware with improved beamforming and digital processing capabilities for more targeted and robust coverage.