SpaceX has formally filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States, requesting authorization to launch and operate a massive constellation of up to 100,000 third-generation (Gen3/V3) satellites in low-Earth orbit. Based on the latest FCC filings, these Gen3 satellites are set to be positioned within two distinct very low Earth orbit (VLEO) layers, featuring nominal orbital altitudes of roughly 323–327.5 kilometers and 473–477.5 kilometers, respectively. Their orbital inclination ranges will span from 26° to 96.9°. The overarching goal of this constellation is to establish a highly reliable, resilient, and all-encompassing communications network. This network will be designed to handle the bulk of global internet traffic, offering ultra-low latency and multi-gigabit symmetric data speeds for both upstream and downstream connections. Its services will cater to governments, businesses, individual consumers, and billions of AI-powered devices worldwide.
