Strong opposition for SpaceX ‘super-constellation’
July 19, 2017
By Chris Forrester
Rocket company SpaceX wants to build a super-constellation of 4425 mini-satellites to girdle the planet and provide extra broadband bandwidth for billions of new, or under-served, consumers. But the company, led by billionaire Elon Musk, is hitting some powerful opposition, not least from aerospace giant Boeing, SES-backed O3b and would-be satellite rival OneWeb each of which have plans for their own super-constellations.
Trade journal Space Intel Report quotes a series of filings with the USA’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and citing objections to the SpaceX scheme and request for a waiver from the FCC which would extend the time limits currently in place upon SpaceX to launch and bring into use its system.
Normally, a business would have 6 years to – at least – get an initial number of satellites into orbit. SpaceX wants that timetable relaxed. SpaceX’s application to the FCC is to debut the fleet with 1600 satellites within 6 years, and to complete the system a little later.
The other objections tabled include concerns that SpaceX’s transmission frequencies could create interference.