SpaceX plans to expand Starlink constellation to 100,000 satellites

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has submitted plans to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy 100,000 satellites for its third-generation Starlink constellation. This ambitious project aims to significantly expand the company's global internet service, which currently serves over 12 million users in approximately 160 countries.

The proposed third-generation satellites are considerably larger and more powerful than the current V2 mini satellites. Each new satellite is expected to weigh between 2 to 2.5 tons, roughly three times the weight of existing ones, and will have a solar panel span up to 400 square meters, more than triple the current V2 mini's 116 square meters. SpaceX claims these advanced satellites will offer a tenfold increase in performance, with a single satellite capable of handling up to 1 terabit per second of downlink throughput. However, the company has not specified a deployment timeline for these next-generation satellites.

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It appears to be third-generation Starlink, though not explicitly stated.

Launching these massive satellites will necessitate SpaceX's next-generation Starship rocket, as the current Falcon 9 is incapable of carrying such heavy payloads in clusters. SpaceX is currently launching batches of 29 Starlink satellites with Falcon 9, and has approval to deploy an additional 4,000 satellites beyond the approximately 10,800 already in low Earth orbit. The new satellites are planned for ultra-low Earth orbits, ranging from 323-327.5 km and 473-477.5 km, which are lower than the orbits used by the first and second-generation Starlink satellites.

This aggressive expansion of satellite constellations, including Musk's broader vision for a million-satellite "Starmind" space data center, is expected to intensify debates surrounding astronomical observation interference and the growing risk of space debris. Astronomers and environmental groups have voiced concerns that the exponential increase in satellites could disrupt ground-based observations and heighten collision risks in orbit. With other major tech companies like Amazon, Blue Origin, and Google also pursuing large satellite constellations, the controversy over low-Earth orbit clusters is likely to escalate.

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The space data center is the most efficient way to meet the rapidly growing demand for AI computing power. This is the first step toward achieving 'Kardashev Type II civilization,' which utilizes all the energy of its star.