TL;DR
The Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceX’s request to add 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites, bringing the company’s expected in-orbit total to about 15,000. The decision includes waivers of prior rules that barred overlapping coverage and limited capacity enhancements.
What happened
On Friday, the FCC authorized SpaceX to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites. According to the approval, that increase would raise SpaceX’s total deployed Starlink constellation to roughly 15,000 satellites worldwide. As part of the agency’s action, regulators waived earlier conditions that had prohibited overlapping coverage and restrictions tied to enhanced capacity. SpaceX had initially sought permission to field up to 30,000 satellites in this licensing effort, a figure mentioned in the company’s application; how that original request factors into the FCC’s final scope beyond the approved 7,500 units is not detailed in the provided material. The publicly noted elements of the decision focus on the count of Gen2 units and the removal of some previous operational limits.
Why it matters
- Raises the scale of SpaceX’s Starlink constellation to about 15,000 satellites, changing the company’s footprint in low Earth orbit.
- Waivers that allow overlapping coverage and higher capacity could alter how Starlink allocates service and network resources.
- Regulatory acceptance of a larger, denser constellation may influence satellite internet competition and spectrum use worldwide.
- Changes to prior limits could have implications for orbital management and coordination with other satellite operators.
Key facts
- The FCC approved SpaceX’s plan to launch 7,500 additional Gen2 Starlink satellites.
- Post-approval, SpaceX would have around 15,000 Starlink satellites in orbit worldwide.
- The approval included waiving earlier requirements that prevented overlapping coverage and limited enhanced capacity.
- SpaceX originally sought authorization for 30,000 satellites in this filing; the source does not detail the outcome for that full request.
- The decision was reported with a publication timestamp of January 10, 2026.
- The action pertains specifically to Gen2 Starlink satellites as referenced in the source.
What to watch next
- The timeline and schedule for launching the approved 7,500 Gen2 satellites: not confirmed in the source.
- How the waivers for overlapping coverage and enhanced capacity will be implemented operationally: not confirmed in the source.
- Responses from other national regulators, satellite operators, or international coordination bodies: not confirmed in the source.
- Any further FCC rulings or clarifications about SpaceX’s broader 30,000-satellite request and long-term licensing: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- FCC: Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. agency that regulates radio, television, wire, satellite and cable communications.
- Starlink: A satellite internet service operated by SpaceX using a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to provide broadband service.
- Gen2 satellite: A designation for a second-generation spacecraft design or deployment phase; specifics vary by operator and were not detailed in the source.
- Overlapping coverage: Situations where multiple satellites provide service over the same geographic area, potentially increasing capacity or redundancy.
Reader FAQ
How many Starlink satellites will SpaceX have after the FCC approval?
Approximately 15,000 satellites, according to the source.
What specific requirements did the FCC waive?
The FCC waived previous requirements that barred overlapping coverage and constrained enhanced capacity.
Did the FCC approve SpaceX’s full request for 30,000 satellites?
Not confirmed in the source.
When will the additional satellites be launched?
Not confirmed in the source.
The FCC approved SpaceX's plan to launch an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites on Friday. That brings the total number of satellites the company will have in orbit to around…
Sources
- The FCC is letting SpaceX launch 7,500 more Starlink satellites
- SpaceX can deploy 7500 more Starlink Gen2 satellites with …
- SpaceX gets FCC permission to launch another 7500 …
- FCC approves 7500 additional Starlink satellites
Related posts
- How the High School You Attend Reshapes Your Chances for UC Admission
- Timeline: Minnesota’s Standoff With Federal Government Over Fraud and Immigration
- X Is a Tool of Power, Not Just a Platform — How It Anchors Neo-Royalty