๐ฐ Starlink to Expand Constellation with D2D Satellites
SpaceX has filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch up to 15,000 additional Starlink satellites into very low Earth orbit (VLEO). This will enable the company to provide direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity to smartphones worldwide.
The satellites will operate at an altitude of 326 to 335 km, which is significantly lower than the main Starlink constellation. This will reduce signal latency, which is crucial for direct connection to mobile devices.
The launch of these satellites will complement the existing constellation, bringing the total number of Starlink spacecraft to 44,988. The new satellites will also use frequencies recently acquired from EchoStar.
SpaceX plans to use the satellites to supplement 5G terrestrial networks in cooperation with mobile operators.
At such low orbits, satellites are subject to atmospheric drag, meaning they will need to be replaced more frequently. Maintaining the constellation will require launching up to 3,100 new satellites annually.
In Russia