UPDATE Viasat is trying to stop or slow SpaceX from launching more satellites for the Starlink constellation. A decision didn’t come in time to stop a SpaceX launch yesterday.
Viasat is trying to convince a federal appeals court that the FCC was legally obligated to assess the constellation’s environmental impact before approving SpaceX’s request to more than double the number of satellites it intends to operate from 550 kilometers, SpaceNews reported.
The FCC originally approved a 4,409-satellite constellation, which included 2,825 satellites in orbits of 1,100 to 1,300 kilometers and 1,584 satellites at 550 kilometers. In April, the agency okayed a SpaceX application to modify that license, moving the satellites in the higher orbits to 550 kilometers and adjusting the size of the overall constellation to 4,408 satellites. The company sought the modification to reduce latency, or signal lag, between space and the ground to improve video calls, gaming and other activities on the network, Inside Towers reported.
In December, the FCC awarded SpaceX $890 million under the first phase of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), which aims to bring broadband service to unserved homes and businesses in the United States. Low latency was a key qualifying criterion for receiving funding.
Of the more than 1,600 Starlink satellites in orbit, roughly 700 have launched since January. Yesterday was the 13th Starlink launch of 2021.
Viasat is asking the FCC to stop further launches until federal courts can review the legality of the license modification. Viasat is developing a three-satellite ViaSat-3 broadband constellation in geostationary orbit that will expand its operations globally, providing three terabits per second of throughput. The first Viasat-3 satellite will serve the Americas, targeting a launch early next year, according to SpaceNews.
Viasat petitioned the Commission to conduct an environmental review before granting the license modification as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Viasat says this did not happen despite SpaceX bringing new considerations for regulators.
The Commission rejected the requests when it okayed the license changes and noted the Federal Aviation Administration does its own environmental reviews as part of the launch licensing process. Viasat recently told the FCC that NEPA required it to consider environmental harms before granting SpaceX’s application, such as orbital debris, light pollution and the effect disintegrating satellites could have on the atmosphere, according to the account.
Viasat spokesman John Janka told SpaceNews it asked the Commission “to stay its order until the federal courts review its legality.” If the FCC does not grant a stay by June 1, Viasat intends to go to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where it will seek a stay and review of the modification order.
SpaceX didn’t respond to requests for comment.
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