SpaceX’s plan to beam broadband internet to earth from a constellation of thousands of satellites crossed a hurdle this week when it won permission from U.S. regulators to launch the spacecraft.
This week’s decision included a plan for more than 7,000 satellites, which is in addition to 4,425 satellites that were previously approved. SpaceX has said it plans to begin launches next year. The company launched in April its first test prototype satellites, known as Tintin A and B.
SpaceX is calling the constellation “Starlink.” The system will be operational once it hits 800 satellites.
Over the past year, the Federal Communications Commission has approved requests by OneWeb, Space Norway, and Telesat to access the U.S. market to provide broadband services using satellite technology.