Starlink, a division of SpaceX, is a satellite internet constellation operator aiming to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to underserved areas globally. With over 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit as of March 2025, Starlink offers internet services with download speeds between 50 and 220 Mbps. It utilizes phased array antennas and optical space lasers for global coverage and supports various applications, including remote work, disaster recovery, and IoT. Keywords associated with Starlink are satellite internet, SpaceX, broadband, and LEO constellation.
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Starlink was operating roughly 3,000 satellites as of the time of the article and SpaceX proposed growing the constellation to more than 30,000 satellites.
SpaceX’s launch schedule and routine recovery of Falcon 9 first stages and payload fairings created an "elastic launch manifest" that allowed delaying Starlink launches to accommodate additional customers.
Starlink was denied nearly $900,000,000 in rural broadband subsidies by the FCC in August 2022 after failing to demonstrate it could deliver promised service to nearly 643,000 homes and businesses.
SpaceX appealed the FCC decision denying nearly $900,000,000 in rural broadband subsidies to Starlink.
The current Starlink generation required SpaceX to launch satellites at a high cadence to build out the constellation and meet broadband demand.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster that supported HAKUTO-R Mission 1 previously launched the SES-22 mission and three Starlink missions.
SpaceX launched more than 3,500 satellites for Starlink’s current generation to date.
SpaceX filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on 2022-12-06 to include a direct-to-cellular hosted payload on around 2,000 Gen 2 Starlink satellites.
SpaceX launched 55 missions in 2022, with more than half of those missions supporting its Starlink low Earth orbit broadband constellation.
SpaceX estimated that less than a third of the 7,500 Gen 2 Starlink satellites approved would be sufficient to provide full and continuous direct-to-smartphone services across much of the globe.
The FCC granted SpaceX conditional approval to launch 7,500 Gen 2 Starlink satellites while deferring action on the rest of a proposed 30,000-satellite Gen 2 constellation.
SpaceX has launched more than 3,500 Starlink satellites to date.
The hosted payload would enable Gen 2 Starlink satellites to use spectrum from cellular partners to deliver voice, messaging, and basic web browsing to standard phones beyond terrestrial network reach.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster on the OneWeb 1 mission previously launched CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, and one Starlink mission.
SpaceX proposed adding a direct-to-smartphone capability to its Gen 2 Starlink broadband constellation using a hosted payload on approximately 2,000 satellites.
SpaceX requested additional spectrum from the FCC that could be used for a mobile Starlink satellite service, including spectrum in the 1.6 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands used by Globalstar and the 2 GHz band assigned to Dish Network.
The U.S. Air Force has purchased Starlink services to support units in Europe and Africa.
SpaceX has launched approximately 3,500 first-generation Starlink satellites and recently received licensing approval to deploy Gen2 spacecraft.
Some advanced Starshield capabilities are contingent on SpaceX deploying second-generation Starlink satellites that will be larger and designed with performance features and higher levels of encryption than the first-generation service.
The FCC authorized SpaceX to launch 7,500 satellites of its proposed Gen2 Starlink constellation.