SpaceX has received approval from US regulators to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total number of authorised Gen2 spacecraft to 15,000 worldwide. The Federal Communications Commission confirmed the decision, marking a major expansion of SpaceX’s satellite broadband network.
The company was first granted approval for 7,500 Gen2 satellites in December 2022, although the FCC at the time deferred a decision on the remaining satellites, citing the need to address concerns related to orbital debris and space safety. The initial authorisation also restricted operations to specific orbital altitudes. With the latest approval, SpaceX is now cleared to complete the full second-generation constellation.
The FCC’s announcement follows SpaceX’s recent disclosure of plans to reconfigure a significant portion of its existing Starlink network. Beginning in 2026, around 4,400 satellites will be gradually lowered from an altitude of about 550 km to approximately 480 km. According to Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, the move is designed to improve space safety by operating in regions with fewer debris objects and a lower overall risk of collision.
Nicolls said the reconfiguration reflects Starlink’s focus on enhancing orbital safety, noting that while the system maintains high reliability across more than 9,000 operational satellites, lowering orbital altitudes allows any failed satellites to deorbit more quickly. He added that the changes will further reduce risks associated with uncoordinated manoeuvres and launches by other satellite operators.
The FCC said the authorisation represents a significant step forward for SpaceX’s second-generation Starlink system, enabling expanded high-speed, low-latency internet services worldwide, including improved mobile and supplemental coverage from space. The decision was supported by collaboration with the US Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
FCC chairman Brendan Carr described the approval as a milestone for next-generation connectivity, saying the authorisation would strengthen competition, advance satellite broadband capabilities and help extend internet access to underserved communities.
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