- General
- November 15, 2018
- 4 minutes read
SpaceX wins approval to deploy over 7,000 satellites
SpaceX SpaceX has won approval from U.S. regulators deploy 7,518 satellites, More than the number of satellites currently in operation…
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SpaceX has won approval from U.S. regulators deploy 7,518 satellites, More than the number of satellites currently in operation as part of a constellation designed to provide broadband communications. The company says it plans to kick off launches next year.
As of current, There are fewer than 2,000 operating satellites with this planned additional traffic coming along with guidelines regarding launches amid vigilance concerning space debris. FCC chairman Ajit Pai noted this before the agency voted on a range of space related matters including SpaceX’s application.
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“Even a centimeter-wide object can wreak devastating damage to satellites,” Pai said and also made reference to the 2013 film “Gravity” that depicted consequences including a spacecraft destruction resulting from a debris strike.
On a 4-0 vote, The FCC upped rules to necessitate more calculations to signal planned spacecrafts pose minimal risk of collisions and to minimize new debris from device that float in space after the release of a satellite.
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The number of satellites in space as of current stood at 1,886 this August as per the Union of Concerned Scientists policy group. Likewise in 2012, about 500,000 small pieces of debris were estimated to be in orbit which counts as roughly five times the total in 2004.
Along with SpaceX, The Federal Communications Commission also approved access to the U.S. market for satellites from Telesat Canada, LeoSat and Kepler Communications.
