SpaceX’s Starlink program requested permission to launch 2,824 satellites in low orbit and leadership throughout the Federal Communications Commission gave increased support for the program.
Opponents of the Starlink program argue that the area that SpaceX would like to house their satellites, which would be at an altitude between 335 and 354 miles, is already crowded with satellites as an increase of 2,824 satellites would put the total number of SpaceX operated satellites at 4,408. This number does not include another existing spacecraft. With 2,612 satellites already residing at this altitude many fears that it will be likely to have collisions with other spacecraft and further increase space debris. In addition, Amazon Viasat Inc., Telesat Canada, and OneWeb also plan to launch satellites which would further increase this crowding.
The goal of these companies is to produce faster internet and broadband, and by allowing for these satellites to reside at a lower orbit, the speed of the internet is likely to increase and allow for efficient internet in rural areas across the globe. SpaceX is already ahead of competing companies in launching satellites in low orbit as 1,380 satellites have already been launched by SpaceX earlier this month. SpaceX also argues that by orbiting satellites in a lower orbit, if a collision were to occur the pieces will likely fall through the atmosphere and burn up before reaching the planet's surface while reducing space debris.
Source: Bloomberg
