SpaceX just got a massive FCC green light for Starlink Mobile

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[SmokingJoe]

SpaceX just got a massive FCC green light for Starlink Mobile

The FCC has approved SpaceX to launch and operate up to 15,000 next-generation satellites built for direct-to-phone connectivity

The new system is designed to:

• Target peak speeds of up to 150 Mbps per user
• Connect ordinary cell phones directly from space

• Operate in very low orbit at roughly 326–335 km

• Use T-Mobile spectrum alongside spectrum SpaceX is acquiring from EchoStar • Deliver orders of magnitude more capacity than the first-generation Starlink Mobile constellation

SpaceX currently has roughly 650 dedicated mobile satellites in orbit

The FCC also granted a waiver giving SpaceX a path to provide satellite wireless service without requiring a spectrum-leasing agreement with a terrestrial mobile operator

Starlink Mobile is moving far beyond basic dead-zone connectivity

SpaceX is building toward a full 5G cellular network in space

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: fcc; musk; spacex

[Jeff Chandler]

Connect ordinary cell phones directly from space

Would there be latency?

[PIF]

Currently, Starlink satellites in LEO dodge space junk 40 times a month on average. The more a satellite had to dodge, less fuel it has to maintain station. So, early failures increase in proportion to the amount of space junk they have to dodge.

Then there are the competing constellations from Amazon, China and others, all doing the same LEO dance. As the constellations increase, the chances of major collisions increase, creating still more LEO junk, until a band of impenetrable junk imprisons the human race on Earth for centuries.

Unless someone decides to do something and clean it up.

[PIF]

AI:
As of 2026, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) contains approximately 31,500 to 36,000 tracked objects larger than 10 cm, of which roughly 15,700 to 16,800 are active satellites and the remainder is debris.

Statistical models estimate the population of untracked debris to be significantly higher, with approximately 1.2 million objects between 1 and 10 cm, and over 140 million fragments smaller than 1 cm.

All of which can make for a very bad day, if they strike one of the active satellites, or space space stations.

[PIF]

Buy RKLB & RDW

[PIF]

Now predict the atmospheric effects created from all the burning debris ...

[bert]

I very recently reread the Robert Heinlein future history novel “Stranger in a Strange Land”.

The opening chapters concern Mars and space travel and such. Elon Musk who has added Grok to X seemingly used the Heinlen work as a primer for things to make, create, bring to reality. There are several such examples incorporated in SpaceX and Tesla. Grok is but one such concept carried to reality.

Grok is a verb occurring throughout the novel.

[bert]

I did and the number was so small it did not register on the calculator

[PIF]

Starling is the only international internet server. Satellites overfly everywhere.

—
Other than Amazon, Canada, China 3 systems, Russia 2 systems, France, Australia - still others in development ad planning.

[PIF]

Currently, but with millions and millions more added to the equation ...

[PIF]

Don’t forget to factor in all the rocket exhaust released in the upper atmosphere on assent and descent.

[stevio]

Those look speculative. What do you know about them?

[PIF]

Rocket Labs is a solid bet with big contracts. Redwire is admittedly speculative, but it does have solid contracts and its only a bit over $10 a share.

There is a lot more on both companies - but you will have to do your on due diligence.

[packrat35]

I bought in, but I had no amount of people here on FR telling me how stupid I was.

[stevio]

👍

[reg45]

Starling should be Starlink.

[reg45]

It may not be official, but Starlink is being used in Iran.

[reg45]

It may not be official, but Starlink is being used in Iran.

[reg45]

It may not be official, but Starlink is being used in Iran.

[reg45]

It may not be official, but Starlink is being used in Iran.