FCC gives SpaceX OK to launch 7.5k Gen2 Starlink satellites The FCC has granted SpaceX permission to launch its Gen2 Starlink satellites, assuming it can adhere to a bevy of conditions, including ensuring Musk's expanded satellite constellation doesn't interfere with other space operations or become an environmental risk. SpaceX's application asks the FCC to let it launch 29,988 Gen2 …
That's been a standard for awhile. And it looks like it is being tightened up from 25-years to 5-years.
We even have a target for them.
The Gen2 satellites are not only 4x heavier but also much bigger than Gen1.5 that they currently launch.
The largest batch with Falcon 9 was 54 satellites but it's generally in the 45-50 range depending on target orbit.
For Gen2, it would be single-digit counts. Not economically (and timely) viable.
Only way they can get 1000s in orbit is with the ~100+ tons to LEO (and massive volume) of Starship.
I think it's a volume issue as much as weight. You're still, more or less, restricted to the same volume as an F9. Unless you design a whole new 3rd stage. Which would change all the aerodynamics for a start. So I can see why they only want to use starship.
What worries me is that a whole lot of things appear to be reliant on that working. I'm sure they can make it work, eventually. I respect Ms Shotwell's abilities to get shit done as much as anyone but it's huge step from F9 to where they need to be.
They only regulate US launches and the conditions laid on said launches. Other countries have their own versions of the FCC and/or other interested agencies giving similar authorisations and conditions on launches from their territories. Not all Government agencies will place the same conditions on them, eg some will not really care where their left over rocket parts land.
"Of interest is a quick note that the FCC made in its approval: SpaceX recently informed it that it plans to orbit Gen2 Starlink satellites using both Starship and Falcon 9 vehicles. "
SpaceX made that announcement a few months ago. They do need to slightly modify the Gen2 satellites to fit Falcon 9:
https://spacenews.com/spacex-adds-falcon-9-back-to-second-gen-starlink-launch-plan/
I really wish that reports would mention that most of* the crashes and explosions were not failures; there was no expectation that the early flights would even make it back to the pad, and the close-to-landings were a bonus on the test plan.
* The only "failure" was the one that exploded at about 1km up in the fog.
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