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Elon Musk’s SpaceX moves closer to approval for Starlink satellites to fly at lower orbit

  • SpaceX has asked to fly 2,824 Starlink satellites at a lower orbit, an altitude of roughly 540 to 570 kilometres
  • A lower orbit allows quicker satellite internet service because the signal does not travel as far

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A render of a SpaceX Starlink satellite in orbit. SpaceX has asked to fly 2,824 Starlink satellites at a lower orbit than initially planned. Photo: Handout
Bloomberg
Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) moved closer to winning permission to fly its satellites at a lower orbit than initially planned, after the leader of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) endorsed the proposal.

Acting FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asked colleagues to vote for the plan.

Rivals of SpaceX, including the Project Kuiper satellite unit of Jeff Bezos’s Amazon.com, said the change would increase the risk of debris-spewing collisions as space becomes crowded.

The order would grant SpaceX’s request and require conditions including those aimed at ensuring safety, according to an FCC spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the substance of the order has not been made public.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp founder, owner and chief executive Elon Musk, who also heads Tesla. SpaceX had 1,320 satellites in orbit on April 6, and launched another 60 the following day. Photo: AP
Space Exploration Technologies Corp founder, owner and chief executive Elon Musk, who also heads Tesla. SpaceX had 1,320 satellites in orbit on April 6, and launched another 60 the following day. Photo: AP

SpaceX asked to fly 2,824 Starlink satellites in the lower orbit, where the company already has permission to operate 1,584 spacecraft. With the change, the 4,408 satellites could orbit at an altitude of roughly 540 to 570 kilometres (335 to 354 miles). The zone is just below that assigned to Project Kuiper’s fleet.

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